Minister Jandroković received Norwegian MFA Støre

Assessing relations between Croatia and Norway as traditionally good and friendly, Ministers Jandroković and Støre talked about the process of Croatia’s access to the EU and NATO.

Minister Jandroković said that while expecting membership in the NATO in spring 2009, Croatia would continue implementing all the necessary reforms. From the point of view of full EU membership, he also expressed Croatia’s readiness to fulfill all the necessary reforms to finish access negotiations by fall 2009. In this regard, Minister Jandroković thanked for Norway’s strong support to Croatia’s aspirations to become full EU and NATO member.

Minister also expressed Croatia’s gratitude for significant economic and humanitarian aid in form of various development projects Norway had given Croatia over the years. In 2007, Norway’s contribution was 45m Norwegian krone worth development projects (which is approximately the same amount in Croatian kuna.) From 1998, within the framework of Bilateral Development Aid Program 30m krone has been allocated to reforms in the area of judiciary, reconstruction of war damaged infrastructure, sustainable economic and social development, etc. Norway has also allocated about 30m kuna for demining.

Both sides emphasized that economic relations were very good, which was confirmed by overall goods exchange between Croatia and Norway in 2007, to the amount of 99.6m USD. Minister Jandroković said Croatia was welcoming any chance for further contacts and cooperation between Croatian and Norwegian institutions. Particularly promising areas are tourism, shipbuilding, investment project of Norwegian companies in Croatia, and the continuation of doing efficient business of Croatian companies in Norway.

Talking with Minister Støre, Minister Jandroković said Croatia’s full EU membership was the best framework for long-term development, and together with NATO membership, the guarantee of stability, security and prosperity of Croatia as well as the entire SE Europe.