The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs sent a diplomatic note to the Slovenian Embassy in Zagreb, expressing concern and protest over the fines Slovenia sent to Croatian fishermen for fishing in Croatian parts of the sea.
Because of these attempts by Slovenia’s state authorities to unilaterally implement the compromised and, for Croatia, unacceptable arbitration decision, Croatia will be forced to respond in the same way in order to protect its territory. Slovenia’s announcement of the fines represents conduct which is not in the spirit of good neighbourly cooperation and European values and which tries to involve citizens in the resolution of the outstanding border issue, including fishermen living and working along the border.
The MFEA recalls that two EU and NATO member states have the responsibility to resolve outstanding issues peacefully, in the spirit of mutual respect, without taking unilateral measures, and once again calls on Slovenia to continue the dialogue on the outstanding border issue.