State Secretary for European Affairs Andreja Metelko-Zgombić 11 December 2018 in Brussels attended a meeting of the General Affairs Council (GAC). The Council held a debate on the multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2021-2027 and endorsed the Council’s programme for the next 18 months, from 1 January 2019 to 30 June 2020, prepared by the incoming Romanian, Finnish and Croatian presidencies. The Council finalised preparations for the European Council meeting on 13-14 December by discussing draft conclusions. The ministers held a hearing the rule of law in Poland and exchanged views on the procedure on the respect for EU values in Hungary.
Regarding the MFF, Metelko-Zgombić advocated maintaining adequate level of financing the cohesion and common agricultural policy, as well as terms and way of financing projects that would not hinder fund absorption. Croatia is pushing for bringing all cohesion funds under the same budget subchapter and underlines the need for protecting national envelopes in midterm MFF revision.
The ministers discussed draft conclusions of the 13-14 December European Council meeting, that include the next multiannual financial framework, single market, migration, external relations, climate change, security and defence, disinformation, as well as the fight against antisemitism, racism and xenophobia.
The European Commission presented the 2019 Annual Growth Survey. Croatia supports the priorities directed at boosting investment, continuing the implementation of structural reforms and ensuring a responsible fiscal policy.