Minister Žužul met with French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier

Ministers Žužul and Barnier talked about the relations between Croatia and France. In a friendly and cordial meeting about the overall relations between the two countries, the two ministers stressed the importance of the European Council’s meeting in Brussels 17 November 2004, where the decision on the date of the start of the membership negotiations between Croatia and the EU is expected to be reached. Minister Barnier took that opportunity to express once again France’s support to the further process of Croatia acceding the EU. The two ministers agreed that the relations between their countries show the characteristics of stability, partnership and friendly co-operation, and that France actively supports Croatia’s EU membership.

Minister Žužul later on took part in Le Bourget near Paris, as a guest along with the European ministers, at an important event in France’s political life, the ceremonial congress of France’s ruling party, Union pour un Mouvement Populaire (UMP). In front of 40,000 members and supporters of the UMP, the current French Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry, Nicolas Sarkozy, was declared party’s new president following the elections. Sarkozy received 85% of the UMP members’ votes.

Minister Žužul is travelling to the Hague tomorrow, where he will be heading the Croatian delegation at the meeting of the Euro-Mediterranean Process 29-30 November 2004.