On the occasion of the Christmas and New Year holidays, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and Foreign and European Affairs Minister Marija Pejčinović Burić hosted a reception for foreign diplomats accredited to Croatia.
Addressing the guests, which included Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković, ministers, representatives from the political and social sphere, as well as religious dignitaries, Pejčinović Burić highlighted the most important diplomatic activities in the outgoing year: Croatia’s chairmanship over the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, the recent summit marking the end of Croatia’s year-long presidency of the Central European Initiative, the fifth anniversary of Croatia’s EU membership, and Dubrovnik Forum. The minister emphasized Croatia’s preparations for accession to the Schengen Area and the eurozone, continued preparations for Council of the EU presidency in the first half of 2020 and the OECD membership bid as priorities for the incoming year. She recalled that Croatia wold host a China+16 summit meeting in April.
Pejčinović Burić thanked the diplomatic corps for their cooperation, expressing conviction in the strength of diplomacy as a response to current peace and security challenges.