State Secretary Plenković and the European Parliament rapporteur for Croatia Hannes Swoboda discussed the development and dynamics of accession negotiations with the European Union, placing special emphasis on the most important remaining negotiating chapters, and on the role of the European Parliament in the final phase of the negotiations. They also talked about the relations between Croatia and Slovenia after the positive outcome of the Arbitration Agreement referendum. Swoboda stressed that the European Union should send a clear political signal that the remaining chapters could be opened so that Croatia could bring to completion all the necessary reforms. He also said that Croatia's acceptance into the EU, as soon as this is possible, will have a positive impact on further EU enlargement.

During the talks with Director General for the European Commission's Regional Policy Dirk Ahner the focus was placed on the preparations made by Croatia for the purpose of using the structural funds and the cohesion fund upon the entry into the Union, as well as on the Strategy of the European Union for the Danube Region. The Strategy is prepared by the European Union and Croatia will be a party thereto.

In his speech delivered in the European Parliament at the conference "Croatia – the Next EU Member State/ Economic Potential of Croatian Regions", which had a large attendance, State Secretary Plenković gave an overview of the course of the accession negotiations with the European Union and expected dynamics in the forthcoming period. He also addressed the political and economic significance of the future Croatian membership.

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