Assistant FM Marušić presents EU macroregional strategies in parliament

Hrvoje Marušić, Assistant Foreign Minister and National EUSDR and EUSAIR Coordinator, attended a joint session of the Croatian parliament’s European Affairs Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee and Regional Development and EU Funds Committee

Hrvoje Marušić, Assistant Foreign Minister and National EUSDR and EUSAIR Coordinator, attended a joint session of the Croatian parliament’s European Affairs Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee and Regional Development and EU Funds Committee themed “Croatia’s participation in the EU macroregional strategies”.

Speaking about Croatia’s successful participation in the EU’s two macroregional strategies, Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) and Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR), Marušić said it was a new instrument of EU sector policy coordination. “It is a joint project, therefore horizontal and vertical coordination among all levels of government is important – local, regional and national,” Marušić said. He added that Croatia had been recognized as an example of good practice thanks to the inclusive model of involving different social participants in EUSAIR consultations and preparations.

In terms of a consistent approach to countries in the region, Croatia supports including Macedonia and Kosovo into macroregional strategies as participants in the EU enlargement process. Macroregional strategies are not a special financing instrument, but offer a framework for talks and cooperation on joint projects, Marušić underlined.

Croatia places emphasis on a smaller number of projects within EUSAIR, given its EUSDR experiences. It also strives for an efficient and inclusive management which would utilise the existing structures and closely tie EUSAIR governing mechanisms with the governing body of the Adriatic-Ionian Transnational Program (ADRION).

Marušić outlined the priorities and calendar of events of Croatia’s co-chairing the EUSAIR steering committee, adopted 11 June 2015. He stressed the importance of education as a horizontal priority, notably in terms of developing a competitive economy based on innovation and high added value.

The assistant foreign minister presented Croatia’s participation and successful project cooperation within EUSDR areas 6 and 8 with Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg as well as the results of the fourth Danube Financial Dialogue, held in April 2015 in Zagreb.

Marušić stressed Croatia’s interest in the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region, which is still in its infancy, due to “the same problems and challenges of Croatia’s mountainous regions as those of the Alpine region as well as linking Croatia’s transport and energy corridors with the Alpine region.”

He underscored that the EU macroregional strategies in which Croatia is participating were a joint project within which we had to promote unified proposals on all levels and forums, in which a prominent role is played by the Croatian parliaments thanks to its lobbying potential.

 

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