State Secretary Pejčinović Burić participated at the opening of the Office of the Adriatic Euroregion

State Secretary Pejčinović Burić expressed the Croatian Government’s support to this initiative which provides an institutional framework to co-operation of units of local and regional self-government on both sides of the Adriatic aimed at defining and resolving issues of common interest in areas of economic development, tourism, culture, traffic connectivity and environmental protection. State Secretary Pejčinović Burić also presented Croatian Government’s activities on the inter-state level aimed at promoting co-operation with our Adriatic neighbours, emphasising that the co-operation of counties, regions and other units of local self-government within the framework of the Adriatic Euroregion significantly contributed to sustainable economic development and good neighbourly relations in this part of Europe.

Since the Adriatic Euroregion encompasses regions of EU member countries and candidate countries, as well as potential candidates for EU membership, State Secretary Pejčinović Burić expressed her belief that all countries on the eastern Adriatic coast would become EU members in the near future. She also emphasised that the co-operation within the Adriatic Euroregion would contribute to strengthening regional administration capacities in countries which are not EU members yet, and prepare them to successfully use regional policy instruments after joining the membership.

Along with President of the Adriatic Euroregion, Prefect of the Istrian County Mr. Ivan Jakovčić, and Vice-President of the Adriatic Euroregion, President of Molisa region Mr. Michele Ioria, who presented the Adriatic Euroregion in details, Prefect of the Splitsko-Dalmatinska County Ante Sanader, and representatives of regions, municipalities and towns participating in the Adriatic Euroregion, the formal opening was also attended by representatives of European institutions and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Secretary General of the Committee of the Regions Mr. Gerhard Stahl, and Italian Foreign Under-Secretary Mr. Famiano Cruccianelli. The participants expressed their full support to the Adriatic Euroregion and welcomed the opening of its office in Brussels.