ZAGREB, March 15, 2019 – Croatia is prepared to protect the rights of UK citizens staying in Croatia after the official Brexit date – March 29 – but in accordance with the principle of reciprocity, it was said at a cabinet meeting on Friday when it was also underlined that efforts were being made so that the country could be prepared for all possible Brexit scenarios.
Croatia is preparing for two scenarios involving the UK’s departure from the European Union – an orderly Brexit and a no-deal Brexit, it was said at the cabinet meeting a day after the British Parliament voted to postpone the fast-approaching departure date.
“Given that it is still uncertain what will happen on March 29, Croatia and other EU member states are working on plans and scenarios so that our institutions can be prepared for the consequences that Great Britain’s leaving the bloc will have on physical and legal entities, particularly on Croatian citizens living in Great Britain but also on British citizens living in Croatia,” Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said, referring to the official date of the British divorce form the EU.
Plenković recalled that numerous institutions and all relevant stakeholders have published the necessary information on their websites so that citizens could get acquainted with issues they must take into account, adding that owing to the efforts the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry and other departments were making, the government would soon present comprehensive information on Croatia’s preparations in case of a no-deal Brexit.
A state secretary in the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry, Andreja Metelko Zgombić, said at a cabinet meeting that Croatia still believed that an orderly Brexit was the best possible solution as it would provide for the legal security of citizens and business communities on both sides.
The government adopted a conclusion taking note of Croatia’s preparations for a no-deal Brexit which tasks all central state administration bodies with completing the necessary activities within their remit to be prepared for that scenario.
More news on Croatia and Brexit can be found in the Politics section.
