State Secretary Maja Vrtarić participated in informal meeting of SEECP foreign ministers, Istanbul

The meeting discusses the situation in the region and the aftermath of the economic crisis, placing special emphasis on the importance of regional cooperation. It determined the areas of common interest for the countries in the region that should serve Turkey as a basis in organizing its presidency. In that regard, Croatia specifically pointed out the areas of energy, transport, and small- and middle-sized entrepreneurship.

The participants showed support for the conference slated for December 9th in Brussels, to be organized by the Swedish EU presidency and the European Commission, on the topic of the effects of the crisis on the region, European integration process and regional cooperation itself. Croatia suggested that a meeting of region’s economy and finance ministers be held before said conference.