Existing cooperation will be expanded by encouraging the exchange of experts and information on minority issues and development of European programmes and projects.
Charter on Friendship and Cooperation between Croatian communities in Hungary, Serbia and Slovenia was signed in Pecs in Hungary. The signatories are the Croatian State Administration in Hungary, the Association of Croatian Societies in Slovenia, and the Croatian National Council in Serbia, reports Večernji List on April 3, 2017.
All three signatories have said that the Charter means a permanent establishment of friendly and fraternal ties. Acting in the spirit of the idea of a united Europe, signatories welcome the friendship that is developing between Croats in Hungary, Slovenia and Serbia (Vojvodina). They express their intention to continue the current cooperation by promoting their activities and encouraging the exchange of experts and information on minority issues, and the development of European programmes and projects.
“The goal of the charter is primarily to provide a common political approach to the authorities in the home country, and also to encourage the use of European Union funds through joint projects,” explained the signatories of the charter.
“We, the Croats from the three neighbouring countries, want to cooperate in presenting our demands to the Central State Office for Croats Living Outside Croatia and other state institutions in our home country. We also want to more clearly articulate our political views, and thereby create the basis for our future joint projects,” said Đanino Kutnjak from Slovenia.
Ivan Gugan pointed out that the Croatian State Administration in Hungary will provide staff support to the joint project office based in Pecs. They already employ professionals who have demonstrated that they are capable of developing projects. “For decades, we have been cooperating well with the Croats in Vojvodina in the field of culture and science. Croats from the Pomurje region cooperate with their compatriots in Slovenia, which is why we want to expand this relationship,” said Gugan.
“Croatian National Council, with the support of the Central State Office for Croats Living Outside Croatia, recently started to expand its staff. The Central Office provides funding for an international secretary and a counsellor for development programmes, who will also work on European projects,” said Slaven Bačić.
