“Croatia’s membership opened up numerous possibilities in cooperation with Italy, whereby it is important to work together and stay focused,” said Assistant Minister for European Affairs Hrvoje Marušić at a meeting with an Italian delegation led by Franco Iacopa, the President of the Regional Council of the Autonomous Region of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia.
The interlocutors discussed the prospects of cooperation and mutual support within the future EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region, European Structural and Investment Funds – with an emphasis on cross-border and transnational cooperation, and European Grouping for Territorial Cooperation.
Marušić thanked Italy for its support during Croatia’s pre-accession, underlining the potential and challenges of mutual cooperation, which was given a new dimension with Croatia’s EU entry. “The Croatian Government is putting forth great efforts to improve the investment climate and facilitate investments through a new attraction model. Croatia wants an economy with a high added value and based on know-how,” said Marušić.
The TAP-IAP was underlined as a project of special strategic importance for both of the countries, with the Croatian side expressing interest in the construction of a highway to coincide with the Adriatic-Ionian Corridor as well as the revitalization of the coast and islands through multi-modal linking and cooperation between the north Adriatic ports.
Apart from intensive cooperation in EU funds, Croatia and Italy have to cooperate in a series of major reforms currently being implemented in the EU, Marušić said.
Apart from Iacopa, the Italian delegation consisted of Finest President Mauro del Savio, Informest President Silvia Acerbi, ACCOA Chairman Damir Murković, ACCOA Deputy Secretary General Valerio Fratelli and Italian Ambassador to Croatia Emanuela D'Alessandro.