Minister Grlić Radman meets with EUSR for Sahel Emanuela Del Re

European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the Sahel, Emanuela Del Re, visited Croatia as part of dialogue with the member states’ capitals on the topic of EU’s engagement in the Sahel, given the troubling political, economic, security and humanitarian situation in that geostrategically important part of Africa. Grlić Radman met with Del Re, reiterating Croatia’s readiness to continue supporting the EU’s efforts to stabilize the area affected by climate change, terrorism and political uncertainty.
 
Del Re also held separate talks with State Secretary for Political Affairs Frano Matušić and with State Secretary for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Zdenko Lucić. The collocutors underscored concern over the growing instability in the Sahel, which is spilling over into the neighbouring western and northern countries, and discussed courses of Croatia and the EU’s action. They acknowledged the fact that the lack of perspective for the Sahel youth, which comprises the majority of the population, creates a breeding ground for the spread of radical jihadism as well as terrorist/criminal groups and other destabilizing actors. In Del Re’s words, the Sahel is Europe’s southern border.
 
She also exchanged views with representatives from the Political Affairs Directorate-General, headed by Petar Mihatov, and representatives from the Policy Planning Directorate.
 
At all the meetings it was underlined that Africa, notably the Sahel, remained EU’s priority in spite of the growing crisis in the area. The EU member states should step up their political and development engagement, which Croatia is also prepared for. Officials highlighted Croatia’s advantages, notably our recent experience with post-war transition, which we are willing to transfer to the Sahel’s collocutors through any form of project cooperation that we will continue to work towards. 

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