The collocutors expressed satisfaction with the intensive and friendly relations between the Republic of Croatia and the Italian Republic
The collocutors expressed satisfaction with the intensive and friendly relations between the Republic of Croatia and the Italian Republic.
State Secretary Mantica reported about Italy’s efforts to initiate the creation of an EU macro-region for the Adriatic-Ionian belt, whose goals would be to further bring closer said region’s states and people, alleviate the existing economic and social differences, an strengthen the stability and prosperity. He expressed hope that the macro-region idea would be realized by 2014, by which time Croatia will be taking part in it as an EU member.
State Secretary Božinović pointed out that the future of the Adriatic is an issue of Croatia’s priority national interest, reiterating Croatia’s willingness to cooperate in and consider the joint interests in the Adriatic, from an all-inclusive environmental protection and protection of cultural heritage to economic projects.
The collocutors also talked about the situation in the region of South Eastern Europe, with a special emphasis on Bosnia and Herzegovina. State Secretary Božinović applauded the conditional decision to invite Bosnia and Herzegovina to join the Membership Action Plan, which the NATO members’ foreign ministers had reached at the last week’s meeting in Tallinn, pointing out that it is a step which undoubtedly solidifies Bosnia and Herzegovina’s path of the Euro-Atlantic integration. State Secretary Mantica said Italy is strongly advocating within the EU that the visa regime for the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina be liberalized as the next step in the country’s Euro-integration process, which the Croatian side supports unreservedly.
State Secretary Mantica was also received by Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Gordan Jandroković.
Press releases
