Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman met on Thursday, 12 March 2026, with the Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, during her official visit to Zagreb. The talks focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation, current European and international issues, and regional stability.
The two officials reaffirmed that Croatia and Austria are close partners and friendly countries that share numerous common interests, as well as strong historical, cultural, and economic ties. They also highlighted that the well-developed relations between the two countries provide a solid foundation for further intensifying cooperation across a wide range of areas, including culture, education, science, defence, healthcare, and the judiciary.
Grlić Radman expressed his gratitude to Austria for its assistance and excellent cooperation in the repatriation of Croatian citizens from the Middle East. Austria facilitated the transport of 29 Croatian citizens from Riyadh to Vienna and 17 from Muscat to Vienna, while Croatia, on flights organised by the Government of the Republic of Croatia, also transported two Austrian citizens. This example of solidarity underscores the close cooperation between the two countries in times of crisis. Croatia and Austria will continue to monitor the situation in the Middle East and call for de-escalation and the prevention of any further spread of conflict in the region.
Particular attention during the discussions was also given to the role of the Croatian minority in Austria, numbering around 50,000 Burgenland Croats, as well as to the sizeable Croatian diaspora. It was emphasised that Croats in Austria, together with Austrians living in Croatia, represent an important bridge that further strengthens relations between the two countries. Preserving their culture, language, and traditions remains a shared priority. In this context, Meinl-Reisinger stated at the press conference that she had discussed the status of the Croatian language with the Federal Ministry of Education and that Croatian would be treated as a distinct language, meaning that in education it will be taught separately from the artificial so-called BCS grouping.
The interlocutors also discussed economic cooperation, noting that Austria is one of Croatia’s most important economic partners and investors. Austria’s support for Croatia’s accession to the OECD was also highlighted, as this will further contribute to strengthening economic relations.
Energy, transport infrastructure, the defence industry, and innovation were identified as areas with significant potential for further enhancing cooperation. Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of diversifying energy sources and supply routes, as well as on projects aimed at strengthening regional gas interconnectivity, in which Croatia plays an important role. With regard to transport infrastructure, the importance of modernising the railway network was highlighted, including the connection between Zagreb and Vienna and the development of the transport corridor linking the Port of Rijeka with Central Europe.
Cooperation within the Three Seas Initiative, currently chaired by Croatia, was also discussed. It was noted that significant participation by Austrian political and business representatives is expected at the upcoming summit and business forum to be held in Dubrovnik at the end of April.
The ministers also reaffirmed their strong support for Ukraine and the need to achieve a just and lasting peace that must guarantee the country’s long-term security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Croatia will continue to provide political, material, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, with particular value placed on the experience and expertise gained during the Homeland War.
The stability of the Western Balkans was also a key focus of the discussions. Croatia and Austria cooperate within the Friends of the Western Balkans group and the Berlin Process, and it was emphasised that EU enlargement represents a geostrategic investment in Europe’s peace, security, and economic development. For Croatia, the enlargement process must be guided by the principles of individual merit, alignment with the criteria, and a merit-based approach for each candidate country. In this context, Grlić Radman underlined that the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is of particular interest to Croatia, adding that the country’s stability depends on respect for the Dayton principles of equality among the three constituent peoples, particularly the Croats as the smallest of the three.
As part of the visit, Grlić Radman and Meinl-Reisinger toured the JANAF terminal at Žitnjak, where they were briefed on the role of Croatia’s energy infrastructure in regional energy security. They also laid a wreath at the Monument to the Homeland in Zagreb.
The visit by the Austrian minister reaffirms the strong partnership between Croatia and Austria, as well as their shared interest in further deepening political, economic, and energy cooperation, and in maintaining close coordination within the European Union.
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