Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Miro Kovač commented the results of yesterday’s British referendum on leaving the European Union.
“This is a heavy blow to the unity of the European Union and comes at an awkward moment when we are struck by the migrant and debt crisis. However, one must respect that decision, which shows that British citizens are dissatisfied with the way the EU functions. I advocate a public debate among the EU member states, we need to see how to organise the Union more efficiently. We have to bring closer to the citizens the EU institutions, which are too far removed from the ordinary person. We need to talk about the powers the European institutions have and the powers the member states have.
This decision is not legally binding, but it does carry a political weight. Britain is expected to start implementing the decision in the near future and will announce on Monday the triggering of Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. The procedure itself could take about two years. Croatia is not that tied to Britain economically as some other EU member states are. The two countries’ trade amounts to one tenth of the trade Croatia has with Italy, Slovenia or Germany. But we will still have to adjust to Britain’s leaving the bloc.
Croatia’s policy is very clear – we will continue to advocate enlargement onto Southeast Europe and that Britain’s leaving the EU does not affect the enlargement process too much. However, one must be realistic and expect that it will have certain consequences.
Prime Minister Tihomir Orešković will attend a European Council session next week. The first move will have to be made by Prime Minister David Cameron, while we will advocate a discussion among the member states on how to rearrange the EU in the most effective manner. We have to draw the EU closer to the average Croatian citizen, they have to know what it brings.”