FM Reynders: Belgium completed ratification of Croatia's EU accession treaty

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Vesna Pusić met today with Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and European Affairs Didier Reynders

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Vesna Pusić met today with Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and European Affairs Didier Reynders, who was on an official visit to Croatia.

Reynders said Belgium had completed the ratification of Croatia's EU accession treaty which, after he signs it during the day, will be forwarded to King Albert II for signing. He explained that the treaty had to go through nine parliamentary bodies in Belgium. Reynders congratulated Croatia on the European Commission’s positive final Monitoring Report and the pending EU entry.

Pusić thanked Belgium for the ratification, adding that the relations between Croatia and Belgium were excellent, with no outstanding issues. “There is a lot of room to advance economic relations, especially on the verge of Croatia's EU entry", Pusić said, adding that Croatia had been voted top tourist destination in Belgium this year. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity for young Croatian professionals to get internships in Belgian institutions so that they could become familiar with European business practice. “Currently there are nine Croatian interns in Belgian institutions,” she added.

The Belgian minister said his country was interested in joining the activities of the MFAE Centre of Excellence.

He also touched on Kosovo, saying he had just been to Belgrade and Pristina and that there was a possibility of reaching an agreement, adding that the EU would take certain steps to see that happen as “cooperation in the Balkans is of the utmost importance to us.”

Pusić said she was an advocate of bilateral problem solving. “When that is not possible, there is the arbitration. Serbia and Kosovo are not EU members, but have the potential and the possibility of European prospect. This is an EU foreign-policy issue that has a bearing on the stability of Europe as well.”

“Croatia decided to cooperate with international courts. We are ready and interested in participating in discussion on enhancing and upgrading international judicial institutions and courts. However, we believe the UN discussion was more of a political discussion,” Pusić replied when asked about the UN conference on international courts.

The two ministers also talked about attending the European Semester and the state of affairs in the wider region of Southern Mediterranean, emphasizing the possibility of Croatia and Belgium cooperating in certain Southern Mediterranean projects as that region’s stability is the priority of the entire Europe.

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