Politics

Ruža Tomašić Asks European Commission if Punishments for Croatian Fishermen are Legal

By 9 January 2018

After the MEP made quite a bold statement about her desire to send the armed forces to Savudrija, she now poses a rather pressing question to the EC...

As RTL writes on the 8th of January, 2018, Tomašić stated to the European Commission that Slovenia had begun implementing its jurisdiction in the Adriatic sea unilaterally and without prior dialogue with the competent institutions of the Republic of Croatia.

Ruža Tomašić MEP put three very direct questions to the European Commission; what attitude does it have towards the unambiguous intention of Slovenia to punish Croatian fishermen for fishing in what are still Croatian waters in Piran Bay, does the Commission consider the aforementioned behaviour from Slovenia to be compatible with international law, and is the Commission is planning on taking on a more active role and ensuring a peaceful solution to the said dispute?

Ruža Tomašić pointed out to the Commission that Slovenia had made a unilateral move last week, and without prior dialogue with the institutions of the Republic of Croatia, began implementing its jurisdiction in the Adriatic sea, which includes making life difficult for Croatian fishermen who, according to Slovenia's claims, are entering ''their Slovenian waters'' in Piran Bay.

In connection with this, Slovenian Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec, who has already threatened legal proceedings against Croatia should the country go on ignoring the abritration decision, said Croatian fishermen who don't want to pay the penalties issued by Slovenia will face difficulties after they arrive in Slovenia, according to a statement.

"This unilateral move from Slovenia has raised concerns and a number of negative reactions among fishermen and the Croatian public as a whole. Since Croatia unanimously withdrew from the arbitration following the unanimous decision of the Croatian Parliament after a serious violation of the international agreement from Slovenia, Slovenian police actions in what remain to be Croatian waters until the end of this process are illegal,'' emphasised Tomašić in the text she prepared on the increasingly uncomfortable issue.

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