ZAGREB, January 29, 2020 - Citizens of the European Union's member-states must be at the centre of discussions which will be taken during the Conference on the Future of Europe, the Croatian Foreign and European Affairs Ministry's State Secretary, Andreja Metelko Zgombić, said in Brussels on Tuesday.

This official of Croatia, which is the country-in-chair of the European Union in the first half of 2020, today chaired a meeting of the General Affairs Council that focused on exchanging the views on the proposed Conference on the Future of Europe due to start in 2020 and end in 2022.

At its meeting on 12 December 2019 the European Council asked the Croatian presidency to work towards defining a Council position on the content, scope, composition and functioning of the conference and to engage, on this basis, with the European Parliament and the Commission.

"Citizens need to be at the centre of the discussions on the future of Europe - how we can address the current and future challenges and what kind of a Europe we want. The Conference on the Future of Europe will provide a valuable opportunity to reflect on these issues," said Metelko Zgombić.

"It is important to listen to different opinions and views in a way which builds trust and ensures that the EU effectively meets citizens' expectations."

During today's discussion, ministers stressed the importance of putting citizens at the heart of the conference and focusing on issues that truly matter to them.

As underlined in the conclusions of the December European Council, priority should be given to implementing the Strategic Agenda for 2019-2024 and delivering concrete results. Building on the success of the citizens’ dialogues which have taken place over the past two years, the process should involve a wide range of stakeholders and groups to ensure that different views and opinions are represented.

Ministers also expressed their views on the detailed organisation of the conference. Many speakers underlined the need to ensure a balanced representation of the three EU institutions and to fully involve national parliaments. Several ministers also expressed their preference for a lean and simple governance of the conference process.

The presidency concluded that discussions would continue after the Council meeting with a view to defining the Council position on the conference and engaging with the other EU institutions, according to the report issued on the official website of the Croatian presidency.

European Commission Vice-President for Demography and Democracy Dubravka Šuica expressed hope on Tuesday that the three main institutions of the European Union would soon adopt a joint declaration defining details of the Conference on the Future of Europe.

The conference is due to start on 9 May, Europe Day, and Šuica hopes that the venue for the start of this event will be Dubrovnik.

More news about Croatia and the EU can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, January 28, 2020 - European Commission Vice-President for Demography and Democracy Dubravka Šuica expressed hope on Tuesday that the three main institutions of the European Union would soon adopt a joint declaration defining details of the Conference on the Future of Europe.

The joint declaration is expected to cover the concept, structure, scope and timetable of the conference which is due to open on Europe Day, May 9. The European Parliament and Commission have already made public their views on the conference, while the General Affairs Council is scheduled to discuss the matter on Tuesday.

The General Affairs Council is chaired by Croatia's State Secretary for European Affairs, Andreja Metelko Zgombić.

"I think we are close to a common position which should be a solid basis for launching the conference. I hope the Council, too, will agree with our proposal that the conference open on May 9, Europe Day, in Dubrovnik," Šuica told reporters on her way into the Council meeting.

The Conference on the Future of Europe is conceived as a new public forum for an open, inclusive and structured debate where citizens will be able to express their view of the future arrangement of the European Union.

Metelko Zgombić will outline the priorities of the Croatian EU presidency that fall within the authority of the General Affairs Council. After that the Council will discuss its position on the Conference on the Future of Europe based on the proposal drawn up by the Croatian presidency.

More news about Croatia and the EU can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, January 28, 2020 - European Union Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhely said during a meeting with the chairmen of both houses of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Parliament in Brussels on Monday that the Croatian presidency of the Council of the EU would be a chance for Western Balkan countries, calling on Bosnia and Herzegovina to carry out the necessary reforms.

According to a statement from the Bosnia and Herzegovina Parliament, Varhely said that the forthcoming summit in Zagreb was an opportunity to put the focus on the Western Balkans region and encourage the development of education and the economy. He also expressed concern about the influx of migrants into the region.

The chairman of the House of Representatives, Denis Zvizdić, and the chairman of the House of Peoples, Dragan Čović, said that Bosnia and Herzegovina expected further assistance from the EU to put the migrant crisis under control.

They expressed their country's full commitment to EU membership, saying that Bosnia and Herzegovina was focused on meeting the criteria for obtaining the status of a membership candidate.

Čović emphasised the importance of EU integration for strengthening the internal stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina and said he expected an agreement on electoral legislation to be reached by early April, which would enable elections to be held in the southern city of Mostar.

More news about Croatia and the EU can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, January 27, 2020 - The coming months are crucial for reaching an agreement on the multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2021-2027, which is why Croatia's presidency over the Council of the European Union is of utmost importance, it was said on Monday after the meeting of representative of the European Parliament's Committee on Budgets (BUDG) and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

Finance Minister Zdravko Marić said after the meeting in Government House that the biggest focus of Croatia's presidency, apart from the four priorities, was the process of the multiannual financial framework (MFF).

He underscores that the main part of the job is in the hands of the European Council and its president Charles Michel, who is in charge of reaching a compromise on the MFF, and who, with the aim of continuing the dialogue, convened an extraordinary summit with heads of state and governments for 20 February.

Regardless of the outcome of that or any other meeting, Croatia as the country presiding over the Council of the EU is ready to continue the dialogue with both the European Commission and the European Parliament, says Marić.

Once we have the political or negotiating framework, there are a whole series of sectoral proposals, more precisely 45 of them, which are part of the whole package and an integral part of our dialogue, adds the Finance Minister. He also praised the information exchange with the BUDG.

"The entire team behind Croatia's presidency is ready to continue talks and in the end we all hope for the successful completion of the work ahead of us," said Marić, pointing out that reaching a compromise is considered as a success.

"We will see how good and quality the compromise will be, however, all us will consider it a success to finish the process within this year and to have a fully functioning MFF so that we can go to the next stages, which are yearly budgets," said the minister.

He also said that the idea and the intent was to make a budgetary framework that would be both realistic and efficient enough to meet all the needs and priorities of the EU and its citizens.

Chairman of the BUDG, Johan Van Overtveldt of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group said after his meeting with Marić that the coming weeks and months would be crucial as this was the time framework for reaching an agreement on the MFF for the 2021-2027 period.

It is also therefore that the Croatian presidency is of the utmost importance, said this member of the European parliament who is also the head of the negotiating team for the new MFF.

As for Brexit, Overtveldt said that this was also a complex and important issue in the negotiations about the new MFF considering the fact that Great Britain was a net contributor to the EU budget and its exit means less money in the bloc's purse.

In the coming period, constructive solutions must be found so as to adequately respond to that aspect of Brexit with the European budget serving citizens of the EU in a satisfactory manner.

Considering the negotiations on the MFF, there are four positions which should be brought closer.

The Commission has proposed a budget equivalent to around 1.11% of the gross national income (GNI) of the future Union of 27 Member States.

Member-states that are net contributors insist on 1 percent of GNI, whereas the 17 countries in the informal group called Friends of Cohesion, which are net recipients, propose that the outlays for agriculture and cohesion should be kept at the same level, the maintenance of the current shares of the national payments in the EU co-funded projects and the maintenance of the current duration for the implementation of such projects.

The European Parliament adopted a position on the MFF in November 2018 which reads that 1.3% of GNI should serve as an equivalent for the budget, so that all the promises can be delivered regarding fighting climate change, research and innovation programmes, regional policy and social rights.

More news about Croatia and the EU can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, January 26, 2020 - The informal group called the Friends of Cohesion, which comprises 17 EU member states that are against slashing cohesion funds in the European Union's next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), will convene in Lisbon on 1 February at the invitation of Portuguese President Antonio Costa.

The meeting in Portugal follows after officials of the 17 member-states convened in Prague on 5 November 2019 to define the group's further steps in defending the cohesion and agricultural policies in the next financial framework. During their gathering in the Czech capital city they demanded that in the 2021-2027 EU budget, the same amount should be set aside for the purpose of cohesion as it has been so far the practice.

They also insist on preserving the same national proportion of means invested in EU co-funded projects in their respective countries, Also, they oppose plans to shorten the period necessary for the implementation of such projects.

The member states of the group are: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Italy, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. They are perceived as net recipients considering the EU budget.

In the next financial perspective, a solution should be found to offset the gap which will be caused on the revenue side by the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union, and furthermore, additional means should be provided for funding new priorities including border protection, research and development, migrations and the defence policy.

Therefore, the European Commission has decided to scale down some traditional policies such as the cohesion policy and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which have amounted to more than two thirds of the European budget.

European Council President Charles Michel has convened an extraordinary summit meeting on the future MFF for 20 February.

More news about Croatia and the EU can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, January 23, 2020 - The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has expressed its agreement with the priorities of the new Croatian presidency of the Council of the EU and has said they strongly resonate with the Committee's own agenda to promote a robust and prosperous Europe based on common values.

The priorities of Croatia's EU presidency, the first since it joined the Union in 2013, were presented to the EESC by the country's Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Gordan Grlić Radman at the EESC plenary session on 22 January, the EESC said in a statement on Thursday.

The priorities that the Croatian presidency intends to move forward during its term coincide with those promoted by the EESC, particularly where they relate to sustainability, EESC president Luca Jahier said.

"We welcome Croatia's emphasis on a Europe that develops by ensuring better conditions and prospects for all European citizens, through balanced and sustainable growth. We are convinced that the sustainable development agenda must be the EU's top priority for the next decade, because it perfectly balances economic prosperity, environmental issues and social inclusiveness," Jahier said.

The other three priorities of the Croatian presidency are: A Europe that protects, a Europe that connects and an influential Europe.

"We can only subscribe to these priorities," Jahier said, adding that the Croatian debut on the European stage came at a significant time for the future of the EU, coinciding with the beginning of the EU's new institutional cycle and the very final stage of Brexit.

Europe is faced with many other pressing troubles such as the adverse effects of climate change, populism or the widening of economic and social inequalities between member states, threatening to shake the very foundations of the European project, the statement said.

"Hardly any other country has taken over the presidency, faced with so many challenges. I can assure you that the EESC is eager to contribute and support the work of the Croatian presidency," Jahier said.

More news about Croatia and the EU can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, January 23, 2020 - An informal meeting of the EU's ministers of justice and internal affairs, the first EU ministerial meeting to be held in Zagreb during Croatia's presidency of the EU, started on Thursday with a discussion on ways to strengthen judicial cooperation and the rule of law in the EU.

EU justice ministers are meeting on Thursday, while the ministers of the interior will meet on Friday.

Attending the informal meeting, at which no decisions will be adopted, are also European Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders and EU Public Prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi.

The meeting is chaired by Croatian Justice Minister Dražen Bošnjaković.

The ministers will discuss ways to further strengthen judicial cooperation among EU member-states, progress on the European Council’s Guidelines for the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice, ways to strengthen education in judicial matters, and the importance of judicial networks in civil and commercial legal cases.

Dutch Minister Sander Dekker said before the meeting that the rule of law would probably also be a topic.

Citing alleged degradation of the rule of law, Brussels has activated mechanisms defined by Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union against Poland and Hungary. If the two countries are found to be violating European values, it could result in the suspension of their voting rights in the EU.

More news about Croatia and the EU can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, January 23, 2020 - European Commission Vice President Dubravka Šuica on Wednesday presented a document in Brussels according to which the Conference on the Future of Europe would be a new public forum for an open, inclusive, transparent and structured debate with citizens of diverse backgrounds and from all walks of life.

The Commission has adopted the Communication on its ideas on what the Conference on the Future of Europe should look like and proposes that it begins working on Europe Day, May 9, and to run for two years.

"The Commission proposes to launch the Conference on Europe Day – 9 May 2020. This year will mark the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Schuman Declaration and the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. As the launch would coincide with Croatia’s rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU, the kick-off event could take place in Dubrovnik," the EC says in its communication published on its website.

Defining the concept, structure, scope and timing of the Conference must be a truly joint effort by the European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission, the document says. EC Vice-president for democracy and demography, Croatia's Dubravka Šuica, has been assigned with the task of organising the conference.

"We must seize the momentum of the high turnout at the last European elections and the call for action which that brings. The Conference on the Future of Europe is a unique opportunity to reflect with citizens, listen to them, engage, answer and explain. We will strengthen trust and confidence between the EU institutions and the people we serve. This is our chance to show people that their voice counts in Europe," Šuica was quoted as saying.

The European Parliament has already defined its position in a resolution adopted on 15 January, and the document calls for "an open and transparent process which takes an inclusive, participatory and well-balanced approach towards citizens and stakeholders."

The Council will discuss the topic on January 28. Croatia's presidency is tasked with harmonising proposals and positions by member states in that regard.

After the Council adopts its relevant document, all three institutions -- the Council, the EC and the EP -- need to adopt a joint statement defining the concept, structure, scope and timing of the conference.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said that all Europeans will actively contribute to the Conference. "It is only together that we can build our Union of tomorrow," von der Leyen said.

The Commission proposes two parallel work strands for the debates.

The first should focus on EU priorities and what the Union should seek to achieve: including on the fight against climate change and environmental challenges, an economy that works for people, social fairness and equality, Europe's digital transformation, promoting our European values, strengthening the EU's voice in the world, as well as shoring up the Union's democratic foundations.

The second strand should focus on addressing topics specifically related to democratic processes and institutional matters: notably the lead candidate system and transnational lists for elections to the European Parliament, according to the information on the European Union's website.

More news about Croatia and the EU can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, January 22, 2020 - The European Union is absolutely unanimous in the stance that citizens of all member states have to be exempted from the visa regime for entry into the United States, Croatia's Interior Minister Davor Božinović said in Brussels on Tuesday.

Božinović presented a report to the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) on a Joint EU-US Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial Meeting that took place on 11 December 2019.

The European Union was represented at the meeting by Minister of Justice Anna-Maja Henriksson of the then EU chair Finland, while Minister of the Interior Božinović and Minister of Justice Dražen Bošnjaković attended the meeting on behalf of the then incoming Croatian presidency of the Council of the EU.

EU-USA ministerial meetings in the fields of justice and home affairs are held twice a year and focus on transatlantic cooperation and common security threats.

After a debate at the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee, Božinović addressed the press and said that the EU was unanimous in its stance that citizens of all member states should be treated equally with regard to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. US citizens are permitted to travel to all EU member states without a visa while Croatian, Bulgarian, Romanian and Cypriot citizens are still required to apply for a visa to enter the USA.

"It was evident at the meeting in Washington and during the committee's debate today that the EU is unanimous with regard to visa free travel for citizens of all member states," Božinović said.

He said that the committee meeting was dominated by the issue of transatlantic cooperation regarding high technology, particularly with regard to cross-border access to electronic evidence and warrant-proof encryption at an international level.

"It is necessary to find a balance between protection of fundamental civil rights and enabling police and judicial authorities to exchange data as quickly as possible because without that, we cannot fight crime effectively," Božinović said.

Asked to comment on criticism expressed by some members of the European Parliament last week concerning the conduct of Croatia's police toward migrants, Božinović reiterated that Croatia would not allow illegal entries into its territory.

"Our position is clear. We will not allow illegal entry into Croatian territory and that has nothing to do with the right to international protection. We are open when it comes to anyone who is in need, however, Europe and the world have to find a response to the question of how to treat migrants who are seeking a better life and refugees," said Božinović.

Božinović added that reports indicate that a growing number of people are using the right to seek asylum so they can physically enter the EU and then seek a place for a better life there. "I can understand that when it comes to individuals, however, the state has to protect its interests, which includes protecting the national border," concluded Božinović.

More news about relations with the USA can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, January 21, 2020 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Tuesday it was good that the focus of the Croatian EU presidency was on the countries of South-eastern Europe because the process of integration of these countries into the European Union was not a priority for the Union.

Plenković was speaking to Croatian reporters covering his attendance at the annual summit of the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos. Together with leaders from Central and Eastern Europe, he participated in panels on diplomatic dialogue on the Western Balkans and on generating growth in Central and Eastern Europe, and held a number of bilateral meetings.

"I'm trying to calibrate the expectations of all our neighbours from the Croatian presidency of the EU this year because, realistically speaking, it is good that Croatia is putting the focus on the countries of South-eastern Europe given so many other important topics," Plenković said.

"If someone else was the president now, I doubt that this would be a topic, given Brexit and a new contractual relationship with the United Kingdom, a seven-year budget that is yet to be adopted, a conference on the future of Europe and the Green Deal package," he added.

Plenković said that the World Economic Forum was an excellent opportunity to talk to heads of state and government and leaders of international organisations, financial institutions and large companies that are interested in cooperation.

He said that during the EU presidency it was important to "dynamise relations between our neighbours and the European Union," expressing hope that the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Zagreb in May would be a success.

"There are quite great expectations from the Zagreb summit in May. It will be an opportunity, I hope, to unblock this situation with North Macedonia and Albania, take a step further and define the future relationship with all the countries in our neighbourhood in the next decade," the Croatian PM said.

More news about Croatia and the EU can be found in the Politics section.