Minister Gordan Jandroković participated in the Gymnich Meeting, held in Hluboka nad Vltavou, the Czech Republic

The second day of the meeting, organized by the Czech EU Presidency, discussed the issue of EU enlargement, situation in South Eastern Europe, and topics regarding the solution to the economic and financial crisis. The choice of topics reflected the Czech Presidency’s priorities, which pointed out the EU enlargement as one of its main areas of interest.

This was also the first time at the Croatia-Slovenia border dispute and the unblocking of Croatia’s negotiations was discussed on a ministerial level. The working lunch, which apart from the EU members and candidates’ ministers saw the attendance of the potential candidates’ ministers, was also attended by EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn. He informed the ministers about the efforts the European Commission is putting forth in seeking a compromise solution to the Croatia-Slovenia border dispute and unblocking Croatia’s negotiations, so that Croatia could complete the technical part of the negotiations by end-2009.

Minister Jandroković presented Croatia’s views on the subject. He repeated that Croatia is advocating a solution that is based on the international law and in accord with the basic principles and standards of the EU. He reiterated Croatia’s positions, which are based on three elements: separating the bilateral border issue from the negotiations process, unblocking the negotiations, and solving sad issue before the International Court of Justice.

Minister Jandroković also attended the briefing for foreign ministers of the EU members and candidates on civil missions within the Common Foreign and Security Policy, and the situation in Belarus and the Near East.

Invited by Czech Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra, he also participated in the working breakfast of the foreign ministers of the countries of South Eastern Europe encompassed by the Stabilization and Association process. During the discussion on the current financial crisis, he informed the ministers about the measures the Croatian Government is undertaking to alleviate its effects and stop the negative economic trends, welcoming the EU members’ interest in the situation in Europe’s southeast.