Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman on Wednesday held a video conference with Stéphane Dion, the Special Envoy of Canada’s Prime Minister to the European Union and Europe.
The two officials applauded the positive dynamic in Croatia-Canada relations and exchanged views on a number of topics of mutual interest.
Given Canada’s contribution to global peace and security, Grlić Radman said he was looking forward to the deepening of cooperation with Canada within NATO’s activities and EU and UN missions. He thanked Canada for leading NATO’s battlegroup in Lithuania, which is of great importance to Europe’s security.
Regarding economic cooperation, Grlić Radman underlined the possibilities opened up by the Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement (CETA). He said that Croatia, as the third EU member state to ratify CETA, was cognizant of its advantages and that it was important to present them to the wider business community in Croatia, notably small and medium-sized entrepreneurships. The minister also underlined the large Croat community in Canada, whose political and economic activities are an important factor in the two countries’ good relations.
In addition, Grlić Radman reflected on the Croatian Presidency, which had taken place amid extraordinary circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He familiarized Dion with the measures Croatia had taken to adapt to the situation, highlighting two packages of legislative measures aimed at alleviating the impact of the pandemic on the European level. The decision to launch accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia was singled out as another achievement of the Croatian Presidency. The minister outlined the long-term strategic advantage of EU enlargement and thanked the ambassador for Canada’s assistance in the matter.