Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman on 17 July 2020 attended the Paneuropean Days organized by the Paneuropean Union. The participants discussed the challenges to European unity at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grlić Radman reflected on the fact that the Croatian presidency had taken place in unprecedented circumstances. In addition to the step Croatia had taken to enable normal functioning of the Council and active an integrated political response to the crisis, the minister highlighted Croatia’s achievements in boosting the European prospects of the Western Balkans: the decision to open accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia, and the decision to open the last negotiating chapter with Montenegro.
“We believe that the integration of Southeastern Europe is a guarantor of long-term European stability, while also being our duty and interest. We need to keep our door open to the Southeastern European countries aspiring to membership, provided they meet of all the criteria and implement the necessary reforms, as confirmed at the Zagreb Summit,” the minister said in his address.
Moreover, Grlić Radman underlined the coordination of repatriation efforts as an excellent example of cooperation within the European family. “We are facing numerous challenges, but they are reason for a more European Europe and not for withdrawing into oneself. Europe needs to move on despite the challenges to world peace, the crisis of multilateralism and trade disputes. It is precisely a solidary and united Europe, firmly relying on the common democratic values, that is able to embrace the future,” the minister pointed out.
Other participants in the discussion included Deputy Speaker of the Bundestag Hans-Peter Friedrich, former Bavarian minister for science and the arts Bernd Sibler, and chairman of the European People’s Party group in the European Parliament Manfred Weber.