On Thursday, November 28, 2024, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman met in Ljubljana with Slovenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanja Fajon and Austria’s Minister for European and International Affairs Alexander Schallenberg. The ministers exchanged views on a range of topics of mutual interest.
Special attention was given to discussions on key challenges and priorities for the European Union and Southeast Europe, particularly those related to the security and stability of the region. On this occasion, Grlić Radman reiterated that EU enlargement remains a strategic goal for Croatia, emphasizing the importance of reforms in the Western Balkan countries and the European path of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a particular focus on ensuring equality for its constituent peoples.
He also noted that as a member of the Schengen Area, Croatia bears the responsibility for the effective protection of its external borders and the strengthening of capacities to manage migration flows. This includes aligning visa policies with European standards, which contributes to the overall stability and security of the European Union. Concluding his remarks, he affirmed Croatia’s commitment to dialogue and cooperation, promoting European values as the foundation of a shared future.
The ministers also discussed joint activities in the Western Balkans, migration management, ensuring energy independence and security, the future of Europe, and current global political developments.
Before the meeting, Grlić Radman, Fajon, and Schallenberg participated in a panel discussion at the Faculty of Social Sciences in Ljubljana, titled “How is Europe Prepared for Future Challenges - Enlargement, Reforms, and Youth Perspectives.” During the discussion, they shared their thoughts on the future of the European Union and its readiness for a new cycle of enlargement in the context of increasingly complex global challenges, shifts in global economic trends, climate change, and complex security threats in the Union’s neighbourhood.
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