Minister Grabar-Kitarović visited Strasbourg

Minister Grabar-Kitarović took part in the meeting of the Pan-European Working Group at the European parliament, where she spoke about the course of Croatia’s EU accession process and its role in the region of South-East Europe.

In her speech, Minister Grabar-Kitarović informed the MPs about the current condition of Croatia’s EU negotiations process, expressing satisfaction with the quality and successful completion of the screening process. She emphasised the significant efforts Croatia is putting forth in the topical reform processes, especially in justice, public administration, refugee return, and meeting the economic and other criteria. Minister Grabar-Kitarović also welcomed the support the European Parliament is offering Croatia on its road to full EU membership.

In the part of the speech concerning Croatia’s role n South-East Europe, Minister Grabar-Kitarović pointed out that Croatia is aware of its responsibility for the future of SEE, noting the SEECP ministerial meeting held recently in Zagreb under the Croatian chairmanship. Expressing satisfaction with the region’s progress in strengthening the security, stability and good-neighbourly relations, especially in light of the Euro-Atlantic integration, Minister Grabar-Kitarović said that Croatia is chairing SEECP at a crucial moment of transforming the architecture of regional co-operation, cancelling the Stability Pact and transferring its responsibilities to SEECP, as a political framework, and to Regional Co-operation Council and its Secretary General, as the key implementation instruments. Minister Grabar-Kitarović also took part in the meeting of the MPs of EPP-ED, the largest political group in the European Parliament.

During her stay in Strasbourg, Minister Grabar-Kitarović also met with EPP-ED Chairman Joseph Daul and Rapporteur for Croatia at the European Parliaments’ Foreign Affairs Committee Hannes Swoboda, and is to meet with the Council of Europe's Secretary General Terry Davis.