Minister Jandroković participated in informal meeting of foreign ministers of Visegrad Group (Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia), Spain and Belgium, as future EU presiding countries, and SEE countries

The meeting discussed the priorities and activities of the current Hungarian presidency over the Visegrad Group, integration processes of the SEE countries, and their transport and energy linkage. The Hungarian presidency’s priorities were pointed out to include promoting Croatia’s integration process as a concrete example and motivation for other countries of the region. Moreover, the Hungarian presidency expressed readiness to contribute to the successful implementation of the European Commission’s Indicative Planning Document for the final phase of negotiations with Croatia, and supported the signing and ratification of the Accession Treaty as soon as possible.

Minister Jandroković thanked Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Balasz for organizing the meeting, as well as for the opportunity to contribute through dialogue to the development of South Eastern Europe and its EU perspective. He also thanked the other Visegrad Group countries for promoting a safe and stable environment of South Eastern Europe and its Euro-Atlantic integration. He pointed out that Croatia has always had interest in the close cooperation with the Visegrad Group countries, especially in the exchange of experience regarding the EU and NATO accession processes.

He informed the present ministers about the course of Croatia’s EU negotiations. He pointed out the success of the last week’s Intergovernmental Conference in Brussels, where Croatia picked up its EU negotiations, opened sex and closed 5 chapters. Emphasizing that Croatia has so far fulfilled most of its obligations from the negotiating process, with 28 open and 12 closed chapters, Minister Jandroković expressed hope that the negotiations would be completed by mid-2010.

Minister Jandroković expressed special satisfaction with the positive results of the Lisbon Treaty referendum in Ireland, saying he is convinced that with the completion of the ratification procedure in the remaining EU members and the recomposing of the European Commission, the EU would continue with its enlargement policy.

In regard to the other countries of South Eastern Europe, the minister stressed the importance of their Euro-Atlantic integration, describing it as the best guarantee of stability and development of the region as a whole. He specifically pointed out Croatia’s willingness to assist with its experience all of the region’s countries on their way to the EU, recalling the principle of individual approach and the need to meet the set criteria.

Minister Jandroković also stressed the importance of enhancing the economic relations between the region’s countries, applauding the economic cooperation within CEFTA, whose former members include the present Visegrad Group countries. He positively described the other forms of regional cooperation as well, as through SEECP so though the Regional Cooperation Council.