State Secretary for European Affairs Andreja Metelko-Zgombić on 29 and 30 March 2022 paid an official visit to Ireland, where she held bilateral political consultations with Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne. She also met with Deputy Chairman of the Irish Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence David Stanton and Leas-Chathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann Joe O'Reilly, and paid a visit to the Croatian Chaplaincy in Dublin.
Metelko-Zgombić and Byrne discussed a number of bilateral and European topics, notably the situation in Ukraine, EU enlargement, energy and post-Brexit relations.
The state secretary expressed satisfaction with the intensified political dialogue between the two countries, thanking Ireland for supporting Croatia’s bid to join the eurozone and the OECD. She underscored desire to advance the cultural cooperation, now that the epidemiological situation has improved, recalling that Ireland was the partner country of this year’s Varaždin Baroque Evenings.
Concerning the situation in Ukraine, Metelko-Zgombić reported that, apart from sending humanitarian aid and military equipment, the Croatian Government had formed a special working group, and that Croatia currently accommodates some 11,000 Ukrainian refugees. The two officials agreed that the EU should continue offering political support and solidarity to Ukraine. Metelko-Zgombić said that Croatia had always supported Ukraine’s European perspective, provided membership criteria are met. In that context, the two officials reiterated strong support for the Euro-integration of and reforms in the Western Balkan countries, as well as the opening of accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia.
Reflecting on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Metelko-Zgombić expressed regret that the negotiations on electoral reform had not produced results, underlining that electoral reform was necessary to eliminate discrimination, achieve equality of all three constituent peoples and guarantee rights to every citizen.
In the context of EU energy policy and supply chain differentiation, Metelko-Zgombić said that the Krk Island LNG terminal was operational and that Croatia was ready to participate in the construction of the second block of the Krško Nuclear Power Plant. Croatia is attaching more and more attention to renewable energy sources as well, which currently account for some 20% of energy capacities.
Metelko-Zgombić and Byrne also discussed the post-Brexit situation and the implantation of the Northern Ireland Protocol, with Metelko-Zgombić welcoming the EU-UK talks, hopeful that they would yield flexible solutions.
The state secretary reflected on the large Croatian community in Ireland, which is currently 18,000-20,000 strong. Highlighting the work of the Croatian Language Department at the Trinity College in Dublin, she asked for the introduction of Croatian language in Irish schools.
The talks with Stanton and O'Reilly focused on bilateral and European security issues, notably in the context of the Ukrainian crisis. The officials also discussed boosting inter-parliamentary cooperation, following this month’s visit to Croatia by Minister of State for Skills and Further Education Niall Collins, when he met with members of the Croatian Parliament’s Croatian-Irish Friendship Group.
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