ZAGREB, April 30, 2020 - EU transport ministers on Wednesday discussed the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the transport sector, with emphasis on challenges to arise with the relaxation of restrictions in member-states, the Croatian Sea, Transport and Infrastructure Ministry said.

This was the second video-conference of EU transport ministers on the impact of the coronavirus on the transport sector, organised by the Croatian EU presidency.

The meeting was chaired by Minister Oleg Butković and it was also attended by European Transport Commissioner Adina Valean.

The ministers expressed satisfaction with the measures introduced so far but also underlined the need to continue cooperation with the aim of alleviating the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Butković said that in preparing an exit strategy one should consider coordinated measures that are proportionate and non-discriminatory and take into account possible risks as well as find solutions for the financial obligations of businesses and hauliers affected by the crisis in the transport sector.

Also discussed at the meeting were current measures such as the impact of green corridors on maintaining supply chains. The ministers also called for caution given the expected increase in traffic in the coming period.

Commissioner Valean presented a set of additional measures adopted by the European Commission Wednesday to alleviate the impact of the crisis on the transport sector, and the ministers agreed about the need to adopt a coordinated approach in restoring connectivity and mobility and asked for the immediate implementation of sectoral guidelines for the gradual relaxation and lifting of restrictions.

Also participating in the conference, at Croatia's invitation, were Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

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

ZAGREB, April 24, 2020 - A summit meeting of EU member-states and six Western Balkan countries will be held online on May 6, the Croatian government said in a press release on Thursday, after the fourth video conference of the European Council members.

In light of epidemiological circumstances, on the initiative of Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, leaders agreed that the EU-Western Balkans summit (Zagreb Summit) will be held via video conference on 6 May, in full configuration of all EU Member States, and the 6 Western Balkan countries, the Croatian Presidency of the Council of the European Union says on its web site.

The EU-Western Balkans summit meeting was to have been held in Zagreb on May 6-7 but it could not be physically organised due to restrictions introduced over the coronavirus pandemic.

"Croatia recognized early on the seriousness of the coronavirus situation and as the country presiding over the Council of the EU it organized a series of ministerial video conferences of EU Member States to exchange views in different areas, especially health care, and to find appropriate solutions to all aspects of the crisis," according to the information published in the web site of the Croatian EU Presidency.

During the fourth video conference of the European Council, leaders welcomed a European roadmap towards lifting COVID-19 containment measures, presented by European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on 15 April.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković welcomed progress in the joint procurement of medical equipment, which is key to dealing with the pandemic and finding a permanent procurement mechanism to meet growing needs.

Plenković informed about "containment measures at a national-level, their phase-out plan, as well as the economic and social consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, to which the Croatian Government responded vigorously with a goal to retain jobs and support the economy."

Considering the importance of tourism for the economy of many member states, the Croatian premier "has proposed joint steps aimed at opening borders to tourists in line with epidemiological recommendations, which will be discussed at the Council of Ministers dedicated to tourism."

On the subject of the Recovery Plan and the Multiannual Financial Framework, Plenković "has advocated a revised seven-year European budget that can meet all the challenges of the crisis and become a key instrument for Member States' economic recovery, especially in the next few years."

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

ZAGREB, April 23, 2020 - EU tourism ministers will hold a video conference on April 27 to discuss the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on tourism and measures to enable the quickest possible recovery of the sector, the Croatian Tourism Ministry said on Thursday.

The video conference will be held on the initiative of Croatian Tourism Minister Gari Cappelli.

The event will be organised as part of the Croatian presidency of the Council of the EU, and Minister Cappelli will chair the meeting as the relevant minister of the presiding country.

The conference was to have taken place in Dubrovnik but the plan was changed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Due to the pandemic and its disastrous effects on global tourism, including the EU and Croatia, the discussion will focus on the consequences of the pandemic and measures designed to help the tourism sector recover as soon as possible following the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions and the removal of the travel ban, Minister Cappelli said.

More news about Croatian tourism can be found in the Travel section.

ZAGREB, April 23, 2020 - Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Wednesday evening held telephone conversations with four European heads of government on restarting the tourist industry, a sector important for the Croatian economy.

The ban on nonessential travel imposed by many countries in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19 has adversely affected the tourism sector, which makes up a 20 percent of Gross Domestic Product of Croatia, a popular destination for many Europeans.

According to the information which he tweeted on his Twitter account, Plenković held telephone calls with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša.

Last week, the talks between Plenković and his Czech counterpart Andrej Babis were held on this topic, too.

Last night's conference call also focused on an EU summit meeting with western Balkan countries, which was due to have been held in May in Zagreb. The coronavirus epidemic is the reason why the summit meeting will be held as a virtual event by the end of Croatia's six-month presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2020.

On Thursday afternoon, EU heads of state or government will hold a video conference to discuss a joint response to the economic and social repercussions of the corona crisis.

They are expected to reach agreement on a strategy for the recovery from the consequences of the coronavirus epidemic and on gradual reactivation of the economy.

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

ZAGREB, April 22, 2020 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Tuesday conducted a video call with European Council President Charles Michel to discuss the coming virtual summit of heads of state and government of EU member states.

"I spoke with Charles Michel about preparations for the European Council meeting on Thursday, the priorities of the new EU budget, plans for recovery from the consequences of COVID-19 and preparations for the Zagreb summit during Croatia's presidency in the latest circumstances," tweeted the premier of Croatia which is currently holding the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU.

The leaders of EU member states that comprise the European Council, presided by Michel, will try to reach an agreement during a video conference on Thursday regarding a recovery strategy from the consequences of the pandemic and building resilience to the crisis by gradually activating measures to relaunch economic activities which were on the most part suspended because of the pandemic.

The leaders are expected to present the European Commission with guidelines on the future Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the period 2021 to 2027 which Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has underlined as the key element to Europe's response to the fallout of the crisis on the economy.

The Commission is expected to release a new proposal for the MFF, seeing that the current proposal for the seven-year budget can no longer be the basis for debate considering the recent dramatic developments.

In May 2018 while the Commission was headed by Jean-Claude Juncker, the proposed budget amounted to €1135 billion or 1.114% of the Gross National Income (GNI) of the 27 member state. That proposal foresaw decreased funds for the cohesion and agriculture policies.

Some northern EU member states were strongly opposed to that proposal and called for the budget to be even smaller and that it be limited to 1% of GNI.

Now, in these circumstances, it seems that there is some chance for a larger budget to be agreed to and more funds for the cohesion envelope which is exceptionally important for Croatia and some other member states, who are bigger recipients than contributors to the European budget.

In addition to the MFF being mentioned as a key element in responding to the crisis, there is also talk of a recovery fund. It is still not known what share of the MFF would be earmarked for the recovery fund nor how it would be financed.

The key issue that EU leaders need to find an answer to is whether to jointly bear or to share the cost of loans.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday expressed her willingness for the Commission to take a loan on financial markets to finance rescue measures and for the European budget to serve as collateral. Merkel said that she can imagine joint bonds, calling on Article 122, Paragraph 2 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

That article stipulates: "Where a Member State is in difficulties or is seriously threatened with severe difficulties caused by natural disasters or exceptional occurrences beyond its control, the Council, on a proposal from the Commission, may grant, under certain conditions, Union financial assistance to the Member State concerned."

Until now Germany had always been opposed to joint loans.

The EU is divided in its opinion on joint financing between northern member states headed by the Netherlands which is sharply opposed to the idea and southern member states that in any case have problems with high public debts like Italy and see this is a way out of the crisis.

Spain has proposed a fund amounting to €1500 billion which would be granted to member states in difficulties. The funds would be obtained through a joint loan on financial markets while the basic criteria to be granted assistance would be the extent the Gross Domestic Product has decreased and the rate unemployment has increased.

As far as Croatia and other member states that are not in the euroarea are concerned, the most important thing is to agree to an inclusive approach so that there is no distinction between member states in the euroarea and those that aren't s and that all member states have and equal chance of recovery.

EU leaders also need to agree on a fiscal package for short-term assistance for the economy which was agreed to some ten days ago by EU finance ministers and is valued at €540 million.

It is also expected that EU leaders will discuss an exit strategy related to gradually relieving and coordinating measures introduced to curb the pandemic.

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

ZAGREB, April 15, 2020 - Croatian MEPs Karlo Ressler, Tonino Picula and Valter Flego said on Wednesday they were dissatisfied with European institutions' weak response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Ressler (HDZ/EPP) said at a video press conference this was the EU's "biggest crisis" since its establishment. "This is, in a way, the moment of truth for Europe because swift action and swift aid are needed now. Concrete solidarity is needed."

He regretted the absence of a response by all member states at the beginning. "Attempts are being made to change that now."

Flego (IDS/Renew Europe) said the EU "was again surprised by snow in January," adding that Italy especially, the European country hit the hardest by the virus, had criticised the lack of European solidarity.

France and Germany were among the first to ban the export of medical equipment, which resulted in a rise in euroscepticism in Italy, with as many as 49% of Italians in favour of leaving the EU.

Picula (SDP/S&D) said European institutions were "slowly catching up."

The measures to help the European economy will show that "the EU is coming out of the initially passive, insufficiently active phase into a proactive phase of dealing with the consequences of the pandemic," he said, adding that the EU had suffered a "certain damage to its reputation" because of the initially absent common response to the crisis.

The three MEPs said a common European policy was needed for an adequate exit from the crisis.

"We should act together. It's clear that the European measures are complementary. It's clear we need to use every euro from the funds and programmes," said Ressler, the EPP rapporteur on the European budget for 2021.

Picula hopes for a more resolute and Flego a more aligned response in the second stage.

The three MEPs agreed that the crisis is showing that it is important Croatia enter the euro area given that its member states will have more money at their disposal.

"This too shows how important it is that Croatia enter the euro area," said Ressler.

"It's indeed good that we are in the European Union and it's a pity we are not in the euro area so we can use more money," said Picula.

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

ZAGREB, April 9, 2020 - A summit of EU member states and Western Balkan countries scheduled for May 6-7 in Zagreb will most likely be held via video link at an appropriate time, Croatian government spokesman Marko Milić told Hina on Wednesday.

He said the summit would not take place on those days because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković as the chairman of the Council of the EU, European Council President Charles Michel and other partners are consulting about the possibility of holding a video conference at the most suitable time, Milić said.

The summit was planned as the main event of Croatia's presidency of the Council of the EU, which ends on June 30.

The Croatian presidency said earlier it had decided to postpone until May 15 at the earliest all informal meetings and conferences which were to have taken place in Croatia in order to curb the spread of the pandemic and alleviate its effects.

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

ZAGREB, April 3, 2020 - The COVID-19 pandemic is a global issue hence it is especially important to help the Western Balkans as a European region, Croatia's Foreign and European Affairs Minister Gordan Grlić Radman said after a video conference of EU foreign ministers, stressing that the EU has been generous in that regard.

The meeting, which was presided by the EU's High Representative Josep Borrell, discussed aid for third countries in curbing the pandemic which has killed 53,693 people in the world while 1,035,380 are infected with the virus in 188 countries.

"The pandemic is a global issue and we need to help third countries and the Western Balkans urgently need EU assistance. The Union has been generous because that area is a European area and it deserves our attention," Grlić Radman said after the meeting.

According to Grlić Radman the meeting discussed the situation in northern Africa, Latin America and Asia.

"They all need the EU's help and the European Commission is preparing a comprehensive aid package which will be discussed at the next Foreign Affairs Council" he said.

Italy, which is the most affected country in Europe with the coronavirus pandemic and a death toll of 13,915 and 115,242 COVID-19 cases, three weeks ago accused the European Union of "lacking solidarity," and particularly after Germany and France banned the sale of protective equipment.

Italy's Ambassador to the EU Maurizio Massari said early March that he expected Brussels to stop "consulting" and to launch "emergency measures that are immediate, concrete and effective."

The head of the European People's Party (EPP) group in the European Parliament, Manfred Weber also criticised Germany saying that it was crazy that China had shown solidarity with Italy and not Germany.

On Thursday the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen apologised to Italy for lack of solidarity from Europe in tackling the coronavirus crisis.

As far as the Western Balkans region is concerned, a package of aid worth €38 million is being prepared for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia, to address the pandemic. The aid will be made available immediately so these countries can procure medical equipment and other requirements for their health systems.

An additional €373 million is being prepared for short and medium term aid for the period after the health crisis to help those six countries to deal with the social-economic consequences.

More coronavirus news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, April 3, 2020 - The European Commission has supported Croatian requests for financial aid to the fisheries sector, which is severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic, the Ministry of Agriculture said in a statement on Thursday.

Croatia was one of the initiators of changes to the EU legislative frameworks relating to the allocation of financial aid to the fisheries sector, the statement said.

The economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 epidemic has considerably hit the fisheries sector, an important economic branch of strategic importance for Croatia.

Intense cooperation with the EU institutions and member states has resulted in a set of measures put forward by the European Commission, including aid for the implementation of the measure for temporary cession of fishing activities and the grant of compensation to freshwater, marine fish and shellfish farmers for the temporary cessation or reduction of production due to the COVID-19 epidemic, the statement said.

Until now temporary cessation of fishing activities was possible only because of biological indicators and resource management, and this change allows for the implementation of this measure from 1 February to 31 December 2020 due to the consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak. The duration of such temporary cessation under the present circumstances does not count towards the maximum possible duration of the temporary cessation of fishing activities of six months per vessel, which is crucial for its implementation in Croatia.

The amended Regulation on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund also allows for the grant of compensation to the aquaculture sector to reduce the negative effects of this crisis and includes measures concerning producer organisations. The percentage of funds for the implementation of production and marketing plans has been increased from 3% to 12% of the average annual value of production and the implementation of the "Storage Aid" measure will be allowed until 31 December 2020.

Provided that the proposal is adopted by the Council and the European Parliament, and there is no reason why this should not be so, the proposed measures will help protect jobs, preserve the food supply, increase stability on the market, mitigate the risk of loss and prevent the worst-case scenario - the closure of businesses engaging in aquaculture, fisheries and fish processing. The adoption of these amendments will greatly assist this sector and prepare it for a sustainable recovery, along with other measures adopted by the government and rules relating to state aid for the fisheries sector, the statement said.

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

ZAGREB, March 27, 2020 - The European Union has drawn up an investment plan worth €37 billion in response to the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, of which €1.16 billion is earmarked for Croatia, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said Thursday.

The coronavirus crisis "requires the responsibility and unity of the European Union. The European Commission's investment plan has secured €37 billion, of which Croatia will receive €1.16 billion. The priority is to preserve health and jobs," according to a tweet posted by Plenković, who is taking part in a video conference of EU leaders. The main topic discussed is the fight against COVID-19 and the rebuilding of economies afterwards.

The European Commission investment proposal was adopted by the European Parliament at its plenary session.

The €37 billion “Corona Response Investment Initiative” is directed at health care systems, SMEs, labour markets and other vulnerable parts of EU economies.

The EU leaders also upheld the decision to open EU membership talks with North Macedonia and Albania.

"We are happy about this confirmation. With this, one of the priorities of Croatia's presidency of the EU Council has been fulfilled. This also shows that the EU remains committed to its priorities in these difficult circumstances," Plenković said.

More coronavirus news can be found in the Lifestyle section.