State Secretary for Europe Andreja Metelko-Zgombić on Tuesday in Brussels attended a meeting of the General Affairs Council (GAC).
The Council started preparations for the European Council meeting on 23-24 March 2023, which will address Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the EU’s continued support to Ukraine and its people. EU leaders will also address competitiveness, single market and the economy, and take stock of progress in the implementation of the recent conclusions on migration.
During the discussion on Ukraine, Metelko-Zgombić reiterated the importance of the EU’s unity and continued support to Ukraine, notably the importance of demining as well as the rehabilitation and reintegration of war veterans as important preconditions of Ukraine’s reconstruction, where Croatia’s experience can prove valuable. Croatia strongly supports Ukraine’s efforts to establish a mechanism for the prosecution of war crimes.
As regards Europe’s competitiveness and economy, the state secretary underscored the importance of strengthening the single market while maintaining the level playing field, with an emphasis on the need to boost competitiveness and resilience of small and middle-sized companies. Croatia deems particularly important investing in human capital and the development of skills required for green and digital transition, which is important in the context of demographic challenges as well.
Metelko-Zgombić stressed the need for EU leaders to maintain focus on energy issues, notably the reform of electricity market, which should stimulate the competitiveness of European market and shield citizens from high energy prices. Croatia considers it important to separate electricity from gas prices.
In the context of migration, the state secretary underlined the importance of implementing the Action Plan on the Western Balkans and full alignment with the EU visa policy in order to lessen the pressure on EU borders.
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