Assistant Minister Marušić holds political consultations in Switzerland

Assistant Minister for European Affairs Hrvoje Marušić 17 April visited Switzerland for reciprocal political consultations with Assistant State Secretary at the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Arthur Mattli

Assistant Minister for European Affairs Hrvoje Marušić 17 April visited Switzerland for reciprocal political consultations with Assistant State Secretary at the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Arthur Mattli.

The two officials described bilateral relations as good, expressing a wish to strengthen the economic cooperation and discussing concrete ways how to do it. Marušić outlined the Croatian government’s activities aimed at improving the investment climate as well as concrete assistance mechanisms at disposal to foreign investors. Mattli underlined the importance of supporting small and medium-sized entrepreneurships, confirming the importance of stimulating vocational training of youth.

Marušić and Mattli also discussed the European prospect of the Southeast European countries, notably Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Marušić stressing the need for a more active role of EU institutions in assisting BiH so that the country could meet the criteria, as well as the involvement of civil society in the process. Speaking about Croatia’s priorities apart from supporting the enlargement, Marušić mentioned Croatia’s joining the Schengen and cross-border cooperation. In regard to Croatian-Swedish relations within the EU, Marušić and Mattli discussed the potential areas of cooperation as part of the Financial Mechanism and contribution to the EU enlargement.

At separate talks with State Secretary Rossier, Marušić discussed Switzerland’s relations with the EU and enlargement of the EU-Swiss Free Movement of Persons Agreement to include Croatia.

During his visit to Switzerland, Marušić also met with representatives of the Croatian community there, with who he discussed among other things the upcoming European Parliament election. 

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