Assistant Minister Pelicarić, along with Minister Kalmeta, participated in 13th meeting of National EU Accession Forum

In his welcoming speech, Assistant Minister Pelicarić pointed out that a systematic and integrated maritime policy is an important issue in the process of Croatia’s EU accession, adding that Croatia is fulfilling its obligations in that regard. He stressed that apart from harmonising with the EU regulations, it is also important to strengthen the capacities necessary for a more efficient implementation of the maritime policy and educate the citizens in that field.

Minister Kalmeta informed the participants in his welcoming speech about the activities of the Ministry of the Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development. He pointed out that increasing the competitiveness of the Croatian shipping industry, protection and insurance of better conditions for the Croatian sailors, and increasing the competitiveness of the Croatian ports are the goals the Croatian Government, together with the Ministry of the Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development, is working intensively on.

Later on, the participants discussed maritime economy, with a special emphasis on the issue of sailors and cabotage, safety, and the protection of the Croatian maritime environment in view of Croatia’s EU accession.

The 13th meeting of the National Forum saw the representatives of the state and public administration, local government and self-government, the negotiating tram, media, academic community, ship operators, various associations and syndicates, and other representatives from the maritime sector, as well as interested citizens.

The National EU Accession Forum is an initiative launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration with the aim of raising the Croatian public’s awareness about the process of Croatia’s EU accession and inciting a public debate on the topic in all parts of the Croatian society.