‍‍Andreja Metelko-Zgombić, State Secretary

born on 15 November 1965 in Zagreb   

Education:

  • Adviser Exam, Diplomatic Academy, MFA (1998)
  • Bar Examination (1993)
  • Post-graduate studies in International Law and International Relations, Zagreb Law School (thesis in preparation)
  • Zagreb Faculty of Law (1984-1989)              

Work experience:

Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs:

  • State Secretary for Europe (2020- )
  • State Secretary for European Affairs (2017-2020)
  • Chief Legal Adviser (2016-2017)
  • Assistant Minister for European Law, International Law and Consular Affairs (2011-2016)
  • Chief Legal Adviser and Head of Independent International Law Department (2004-2011)
  • Head of International Law Department (1999-2004)
  • Deputy Head of International Law Department (1996-1999)
  • Counsellor, International Law Department (1994-1996)

HELIOS osiguranje insurance company – legal affairs (1994)

Office of the President of the Republic:

  • Assistant to the Foreign Policy Adviser to the President of the Republic (1992)

Justice:

  • Trainee at the Municipal Court in Zagreb (1992-1993)
  • Trainee at an attorney's office (1990-1991)

Major task and assignments:

  • Participated in the preparation and drafting of the Programme and Priorities of Croatia’s Council of the EU Presidency (EU2020HR), presided over the General Affairs Council (GAC) during EU2020HR, regular participant in meetings of EU affairs ministers (GAC) since 2018
  • Border arbitration with the Republic of Slovenia  (negotiations on the conclusion of the Arbitration Agreement, establishment of the Arbitration Tribunal, co-agent of the Republic of Croatia in the arbitration with the Republic of Slovenia)
  • Co-agent of the Government of the Republic of Croatia in the case Republic of Croatia against the Republic of Serbia for genocide before the International Court of Justice in The Hague (at the stage of the presentation and the submissions in writing concerning the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, and at the stage of deciding on the merit)
  • Representative of the Government of the Republic of Croatia presenting the views in the advisory proceedings of the International Court of Justice in The Hague on the legitimacy of the act declaring the independence of Kosovo
  • Representative of the Government of the Republic of Croatia before the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg in the preliminary proceedings (authorization of notary publics in enforcement procedures)
  • Coordinator of the Government of the Republic of Croatia for the issues of the succession to the former SFRY and High Representative of the Government of the Republic of Croatia on the Standing Joint Committee in accordance with the 2001 Agreement on Succession Issues
  • President of the Commission of the Government of the Republic of Croatia for Borders
  • Participated in or conducted talks in a series of bilateral negotiations and expert talks related to borders (Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia)
  • MFEA Coordinator for the fulfilment of the Schengen standards and for strategic planning
  • Member of Government delegations (NPP Krško, climate change, Coast Guard) and expert groups (denationalization, declaration of the Ecological and Fisheries Protection Zone)
  • Member or head of delegations in a number of bilateral negotiations and expert talks (protection of the Adriatic, property purchase by foreign nationals, the issue of esuli and optant property)
  • Participated in the work of the Sixth Committee (legal) of the UN General Assembly, in the meeting of the legal advisers of the CoE Member States (CAHDI), in the meeting of the EU Member States (COJUR)
  • Member of several working groups for the preparation of negotiations on the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union
  • Member of Government delegations in a number of international conferences (Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol)
  • Member of Government delegations for the signing of a number of international agreements, drafting of opinions, analyses and information on various important issues within the MFEA domain
  • Consular Law Lecturer at the Zagreb Faculty of Law  
  • Lecturer at the Diplomatic Academy (MFEA), the Military Academy (MoD) and the Summer ELSA Law School in Rijeka

Awards and medals:

  • University of Zagreb Rector Awards (1986 and 1989)
  • Homeland Gratitude Medal

Courses and specializations:

  • Seminar of the International Law Commission in Geneva, seminar in international law at King's College in London, seminars at the Inter-university Study in Dubrovnik etc.