In Pula, 7 April 2004, a trilateral meeting was held between State Secretary to Croatian MFA Hido Biščević, State Secretary to Slovenian MFA Andrej Logar and Under Secretary of State to Italian MFA Roberto Antonione, as a part of the agreement on harmonising the three countries' positions and interests in the protection policy regarding the North Adriatic after the Croatian Parliament's decision to establish an ecological-fishery zone
The meeting confirmed the importance of a permanent dialogue about this important issue and the need for a regional co-operation in ecology, fishery, protection of the sea and maritime resources, as well as the importance of harmonising with the EU policy. The Croatian side tried to convince the others that the establishing of a Protected ecological-fishery zone was motivated by the need to protect parts of the Adriatic outside the national jurisdiction, in accordance with the EU policy and relevant documents of the European Commission. The Italian and Slovenian side offered the initiative to create a common zone in the North Adriatic, while the Croatian side reiterated that the implementation of the Croatian Parliament’s would not harm Slovenia and Italy’s objective interests. The possibility of continuing this dialogue with the European Commission as part of Croatia’s approaching the EU was also considered.
The continuation of the talks between the three state officials was agreed upon, with the conviction that the following high level bilateral meetings will also contribute to the strengthening of the co-operation between the three countries, together with the policy of good will, respect of international law and strengthening of European values.
Press releases
