Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman on 28 July 2020 met with Slovenian Foreign Minister Anže Logar. Grlić Radman underlined that he had chosen Slovenia as the first foreign destination in his new term of office to show the importance Croatia attached to relations with our neighbours.
The two ministers reflected on their meeting in May at the Kaštel-Dragonja border crossing, agreeing it was important to show that even in extraordinary circumstances cooperation and exchange of views on a number of joint interest issues was still taking place.
They also recalled a recent successful meeting between Croatian and Slovenian prime ministers Andrej Plenković and Janez Janša on the fight against coronavirus. They agreed it was necessary for the specialist services and relevant institutions to continue cooperating in order to enable free movement of people and flow of goods. “After gradually opening the borders, Croatia has ensured a clear and timely epidemiological framework for the arrival of tourists and tourist activities, and we are looking forward to Slovenian guests,” Grlić Radman underscored.
Logar said that the EU integration of the Western Balkans was high on Slovenia’s priority list for the second half of 2021. Grlić Radman welcomed the priorities of Germany-Portugal-Slovenia trio, adding that Croatia was willing to share its experiences in chairing the Council of the EU.
“I outlined Croatia’s efforts to join the eurozone and Schengen Area, and I was glad to hear words of support from my Slovenian colleague. It is extremely important for the EU that its external border is efficiently protected and strengthened,” Grlić Radman told the press.
Discussing cooperation within the European family, the two ministers expressed satisfaction with the unity and constructive cooperation that Plenković and Janša had shown in the European Council, fighting for more economic recovery funds.