Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Gordan Jandroković participated on Wednesday, 5 May 2010 at the meeting of Adriatic – Ionian Council in Ancona.

The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Italian Republic Franco Frattini, and attended by Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Serbia, Montenegro, the Republic of Albania and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic. On the invitation of Minister Frattini, EU Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania Šarunas Adomavičius also participated at the meeting as guests.

Ministers of the member countries of the Adriatic – Ionian Initiative adopted the Declaration of the Adriatic – Ionian Council on the support to the EU Strategy for the Adriatic – Ionian region and the Ancona Declaration.

In his speech, Minister Jandroković stressed the fact that the 10th anniversary of the Adriatic –Ionic Initiative is being marked this year. He recalled the very beginnings of the Initiative’s activities and expressed satisfaction with the results during the past ten years, which were achieved through co–operation of the Initiative’s member countries. Furthermore, because of concrete results aimed at strengthening peace, stability and well–being in the Adriatic – Ionian area, the Initiative has gained an international reputation. Institutions on state and local level have participated in achieving these results, as well as governmental and non–governmental institutions and many institutions from the public sector like universities and scientific institutes, stated Minister Jandroković.

In the other part of his speech, Minister Jandroković appealed to the present participants to keep up the efficient work during the forthcoming period and introduced a discussion on common future. Referring to the Croatian EU accession process, Minister Jandroković stated that those Adriatic – Ionian member countries that are still not EU member states should strive to EU membership and share common values. In this respect, the Republic of Croatia will, within the framework of its regional co–operation policy, continue giving support. After forming and functioning of the Baltic macroregion and initial experiences in forming the Danube macroregion, Minister Jandroković expressed support and wish for the Republic of Croatia to participate in forming a new EU Initiative which would aim at creating an Adriatic – Ionian macroregion. He also stressed the importance of full and timely co–operation based on transparency, involvement and principle of partnership equality among all participants.

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