Minister Grabar-Kitarović hosted in Dubrovnik 3rd Informal Meeting of the Ministers of European Affairs of South Eastern Europe

This year's ministerial meeting was held as a part of Croatian SEECP (South-East European Cooperation Process) Chairmanship. One of the subjects broached during the meeting was the issue of progress of states of South Eastern Europe towards the European Union and further enlargement. Two panel discussions were organized with the following subject - „3C & 3D“ dealing with the common admission of South Eastern European area to the well-known 3C term (consolidation – conditionality – communication) about the further enlargement in the 3D shape (dynamics – determination – dialogue) that was proposed by Minister Grabar-Kitarović while the title of the second panel discussion was „Bulding Bridges of Understanding – South Eastern Europe meets the Northern Europe“

Minister Grabar-Kitarović pointed out while talking about the further enlargement in the framework of „3C & 3D“ admission with a short reference to the dynamics of enlargement that this should be based on the individual achievement of each state candidate. Furthermore, Minister Grabar-Kitarović said that positive effects due to the enlargement on new state members as for the European Union, as well as for the aspirant states should not be forgotten. Minister Grabar-Kitarović emphasized that recent studies had given proof of the success that the latest enlargement had since the Central European area became a zone of stability and progress during the last 15 years.

Furthermore, Minister Grabar-Kitarović pointed out that the benefits of membership are obvious and long-lasting so they present a powerfull motive for the implementation of all the necessary reforms which is creating states partners of the European Union that are ready and capable of sharing European values – democracy, protection of human rights and rule of justice. For this reason, the aspirant states are not a safety threat neither an economical burden for the European Union, but equal partners which is an additional encouragement for the aspirant states in their consistence of implementation of reforms and taking over the obligations that are consequence of membership in the European Union.

Minister Grabar-Kitarović said that the Republic of Croatia would like the same benefits for her neighbours and therefore it is important to fulfill the cooperation with neighbouring countries that is going to be open and based on the European principles in confirmity with politics of the European Union.

Minister Grabar-Kitarović refered not only to dynamics and determination as essential components of the 3D admission but also to importance of dialogue that should be led as in a country's sphere of politics, society's elite and in public in general, so in the neighbouring countries and with the European Union.

Minister Grabar-Kitarović expressed belief that the European Union would keep its promisses and that the enlargement of the European Union would continue as a process contributing the strength of the European Union. Furthermore, Minister Grabar-Kitarović pointed out that the European Union's absorbing power, often presented as an obstacle for the further enlargement, wasn't in its own nature since the European Union is not a club absorbing new members but admitting them.