Minister Grabar-Kitarović met with European Commissioner for Regional Policy Danuta Hübner

The meeting focused on the issues of using the European Union’s pre-accession assistance. Since the pre-accession assistance benefits the candidate countries in preparing for the usage of EU regional policy instruments upon accession, the meeting reviewed certain aspects of the optimal usage of available funds.

Commissioner Hübner pointed out that the European Commission wants to see Croatia as a full EU member as soon as possible, noting the importance of preparations during the accession period for developing the absorption capacity that will enable Croatia to use the funds upon admittance as efficiently as possible.

Minister Grabar-Kitarović confirmed Croatia’s total dedication to realising the full EU membership as its foreign policy priority, pointing out that the pre-accession assistance is an important element in the accession process. She reviewed Croatia’s measures and strategic guidelines for stimulating the absorption capacities and optimising the usage of EU funds, as well as Croatia’s current usage of the pre-accession assistance.