Minister Grlić Radman satisfied with outcome of EU summit

Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman said on Tuesday he was satisfied with the EU summit at which it was agreed that Croatia would receive a little over €22 billion in the next seven-year budget

Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman said on Tuesday he was satisfied with the EU summit at which it was agreed that Croatia would receive a little over €22 billion in the next seven-year budget.

Responding to questions from press, he said the amount was important for Croatia's economic recovery and even development, and that "Croatia's diplomacy will certainly attempt to have the money absorbed as soon as possible."

Grlić Radman said the amount was "actually the result of the big contribution and engagement" of Prime Minister Andrej Plenković during the four-day summit.

He said that during its EU presidency in the first half of the year Croatia pushed for the largest budget and economic recovery funds as possible. "The prime minister and the ministers, we all... pointed to the needs. Croatia is the youngest European Union member, having profited the least from EU funds."

"From the start we pushed, if we all wish to be equal in the European Union, for catching up with the wealthy member states, for investing, for helping, for showing solidarity with those who joined the European Union last," said Grlić Radman.

Asked about the biggest challenges for the Foreign Ministry in the period ahead, he said "Croatia's diplomacy has a certain continuity."

The diplomacy, he said, under Plenković as prime minister over the past four years and strengthened by the six-month EU presidency, "has gained a good experience, the strength to embark on talks with the immediate neighbourhood."

"That's the foreign policy dimension that we will develop. Just as we said during our presidency, the priority were two countries, North Macedonia and Albania," he said, adding that Croatia would now intensify bilateral cooperation and talks with them.

"They are on the European journey and Croatia is actually the biggest advocate of their European journey, and we will also try to strengthen our transatlantic ties because in these six months, as the presiding country, we were responsible for all 27 (EU) countries, and that's our big experience," said Grlić Radman.

Text: Hina

Press releases