ZAGREB, February 6, 2018 – European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Tuesday the Croatian-Slovenian border dispute was both a bilateral and a European problem and that the two countries had the responsibility to resolve it.
Croatia and Slovenia are responsible for that problem and must resolve it, he said at a European Parliament plenary after Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković’s address about Europe’s future.
Juncker added that the Commission had offered to help resolve the dispute but that the two countries had used that possibility to only a small extent. He said Western Balkan countries would not join the European Union until they resolved all of their border issues.
As for enlargement, Juncker said the years given for the accession of Serbia and Montenegro were indicative and that candidates would join only when they had met the requirements, which he said was not the case now.
He said Croatia was at the same time an example and an inspiration for EU aspirations in future. Croatia is a state which showed courage in self-defence and belief in the European project, he said, adding that Croatia’s growth was above 3%, while unemployment was down by 6%.
Croatia is a symbol of what we can achieve if we act together in the EU, Juncker said, adding that the development of new member states must not be ignored.
He said the Commission would support the Pelješac Bridge project as well as those being worked on in Dalmatia as they were important Croatian and European projects, adding that he rejected attacks on the common cohesion and agricultural policies.
Juncker said that due to Brexit, the current budget framework must be changed, but that the cuts have to be reasonable.
