FM Grlić Radman attends Gymnich

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman 29-30 August in Helsinki attended an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers (Gymnich)

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman 29-30 August in Helsinki attended an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers (Gymnich).

The meeting started off with a working lunch on hybrid threats with EU ministers of defence. The participants agreed to continue working on a joint response to this challenge, notably the coordination and boosting of hybrid attack resilience, and reflected on the Mutual Assistance and Solidarity Clauses (Article 42(7) TEU).

The second part of the meeting saw ministers discussing the situation in the Middle East and the Gulf. They voiced concern over the current state of affairs and underlined commitment to the implementation of JCPOA and the need for defusing the tensions. Emphasis was placed on freedom of the seas. The ministers also discussed the possibility of EU involvement, which in the period ahead will focus on diplomacy and creating a space for dialogue among all the relevant factors in the wider region.

On the second day, the ministers discussed the EU’s stronger engagement in the Arctic, which brings numerous opportunities and challenges. That was followed by a working session with Western Balkan partners (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia) on regional cooperation. Grlić Radman underscored Croatia’s support for EU enlargement, stressing its importance for the security and stability of our neighbourhood as well as Europe. He was hopeful that all six countries would achieve progress on their European journey, adding that that would be one of Croatia’s Council of the EU chairmanship priorities. Grlić Radman said that he expected EU accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania to be launched in October this year and called for government formation in Bosnia and Herzegovina so that the country could continue progressing towards the EU.

On the margins of Gymnich, Grlić Radman held bilateral talks with foreign ministers of Finland, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Albania, Austria, Spain, Malta, Romania, Hungary, Cyprus, Greece, Kosovo and North Macedonia.

 

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