Minister Grabar-Kitarović took part at the meeting of the EU members’ ministers for European affairs in Brussels

Minister Grabar-Kitarović held in Brussels and official meeting with Belgium’s Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, and at the margins of today’s ministerial meetings a series of meetings with the EU members’ foreign affairs and European integration ministers. The meetings discussed the start of Croatia’s negotiations with the EU, for which the EU Council set the date 17 March this year.

Minister Grabar-Kitarović expressed Croatia’s firm dedication to full co-operation with the Hague Tribunal and informed the European ministers about Croatia’s efforts in the realisation of this co-operation and the solving of the single remaining open issue.

Croatia takes very seriously the condition of co-operation with the Hague and is acting with full responsibility in that regard to show that it is doing everything it can and prove its credibility. Minister Grabar-Kitarović expressed her conviction that Croatia can realise full co-operation with the Hague by 17 March and asked for the EU ministers’ support, pointing out that all the objective circumstances need to be taken into account, as well as the consistent efforts Croatia is making to start the membership negotiations with the EU.