State Secretary for Europe Andreja Metelko-Zgombić participated in the meeting of the General Affairs Council held in Brussels on 17 March 2026. The agenda included preparations for the European Council meeting of 19-20 March 2026, governance aspects of the future Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034, and the 2026 European Semester.
In the discussion on governance aspects of the future MFF 2028-2034, the state secretary expressed principled support for the proposed increase in budgetary flexibility, while stressing the need to preserve institutional balance and ensure a strong role for the Council and Member States in the governance and implementation of programmes across all three pillars of the future MFF. She also underscored the importance of ensuring predictability of funding for beneficiaries, effective programme implementation, and avoiding additional administrative burdens.
The Council completed preparations for the European Council meeting on 19-20 March, where leaders will discuss Ukraine, the Middle East, competitiveness and the single market, the future MFF, European defence and security, migration, and multilateralism. Metelko-Zgombić highlighted the importance of urgently operationalising the €90 billion Ukraine support loan agreed at leaders’ level in December, as well as the swift adoption of the 20th EU sanctions package against Russia. She also emphasised the continued readiness and capacity of Croatia to contribute to energy supply security for neighbouring Central European countries via the Adriatic oil pipeline (JANAF).
On competitiveness and the single market, Metelko-Zgombić stressed the importance of further efforts to reduce energy prices, with a focus on completing the Energy Union. She pointed in particular to the need for continued investment in energy infrastructure, including networks and cross-border projects, as well as careful monitoring of developments in energy markets and timely responses. She welcomed the leaders’ discussion on the future MFF and its contribution to strengthening European competitiveness. She highlighted the importance of the future European Competitiveness Fund and the need to ensure it effectively fosters innovation and industrial growth across the EU, delivering a genuinely pan-European impact and contributing to the Union’s overall competitiveness. In this context, it is essential to ensure balanced and equitable access to funding for projects from all Member States.
As part of the regular annual cycle of activities under the European Semester, the Council considered the 2026 Synthesis Report, took note of the Updated Plan, and forwarded to the European Council the Recommendation on the economic policy of the euro area.
On the margins of the Council, the 26th Intergovernmental Conference on Accession with Montenegro was held. The state secretary welcomed the provisional closure of Chapter 21 on Trans-European Networks and particularly emphasised the importance of connectivity projects in the transport and energy sectors, such as the Adriatic-Ionian gas pipeline and the Adriatic-Ionian motorway. She reaffirmed Croatia’s continued support for Montenegro’s pro-European efforts and underlined the importance of genuine commitment to the European path and good neighbourly relations.
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