Assistant Minister Neven Pelicarić participated in 9th Meeting of EUROMED Foreign Ministers in Lisbon

Assistant Minister Pelicarić thanked on behalf of the Republic of Croatia for the support for the decision adopted at the 6th Conference of EUROMED Trade Ministers, held on 21 October 2007 in Lisbon, concerning the inclusion of the Western Balkans’ countries into the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean system of origin cumulation.

That decision is the result of intensive diplomatic activities on part of the Croatian representatives, and is of great importance for the Croatian economy, as the system of diagonal cumulation of origin benefits all of the economic subjects and countries involved.

The Republic of Croatia, as a Mediterranean country and an EU membership candidate, shares the Union’s wish for a further strengthening of dialogue and co-operation between the Mediterranean countries. In that regard, and in the context of the recent election as a non-permanent UN Security Council member for the 2008/2009 period, Croatia can give a stronger contribution to the establishment of peace, security, and stability of the Mediterranean region.

The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EUROMED), also known as the Barcelona Process, is the name given to the comprehensive and joint EU policy towards the Mediterranean countries that are not members of the EU. Since its founding in 1995 in Barcelona, Croatia, as a Mediterranean country, regularly participates in EUROMED activities and follows with great interest all of the initiatives regarding the enhancement of political and economic co-operation in the Mediterranean.