“Centres of excellence and energy are our common topics”

European integration, reforms and adoption of standards are a way of stabilizing Southeast Europe, told First Deputy Prime Ministers and Foreign Minister Vesna Pusić her Costa Rican counterpart Jose Enrique Castillo Barrantes

European integration, reforms and adoption of standards are a way of stabilizing Southeast Europe, told First Deputy Prime Ministers and Foreign Minister Vesna Pusić her Costa Rican counterpart Jose Enrique Castillo Barrantes during their talks on the margins of the EU-CELAC Summit. 

Barrantes recalled that from 1962 to 1966 Costa Rican president was Francisco Orlich, a Croat, whose political heritage can still be felt in the country. He said Costa Rica also wanted to open centres of excellence in certain areas, adding they were interested in cooperation in energy, especially “new, clean and green” energy. “We get our energy from two volcanoes, but they are situated in national parks so our exploitation is limited,” said Barrantes, adding that the production of hybrid engines was one of the possible areas of cooperation. According to him, Costa Rica specializes in eco-tourism and is more interested in sharing the know-how than investing in tourist industry abroad. 

Pusić said Croatia was thinking about using biofuel in public and municipal transport, with one of the biggest obstacles being the legislation. In the sense that it should not be open to corruption or too restrictive for investments. 

The Costa Rican minister proposed a meeting between delegation of Croatian and Costa Rican governments to discuss the possibilities of future cooperation.

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