ZAGREB, March 5, 2018 – Croatia’s Foreign Minister Marija Pejčinović Burić received British Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union David Davis in Zagreb on Monday and the two officials discussed the possibilities for Great Britain to fully open its labour market for workers with Croatian citizenship.
Britain is one of a few EU member states that have adopted transitional arrangements regarding the free movement of Croatian workers onto their respective labour markets in accordance with the EU-Croatia Accession Treaty, and these transitional restrictions expire on 30 July this year. However, London can extend them for two more years at maximum. Croatia’s authorities are insisting on the discussion on this topic also within the negotiations on Brexit.
According to a press release issued by the Croatian Foreign Ministry, Minister Pejčinović Burić highlighted that it was in the interest of both Croatia and Great Britain to reach agreement on key issues so as to avoid the prolongation of periods of uncertainty.
Concerning the Brexit talks, Croatia holds that one of the important elements is to ensure the exercise of the rights of citizens, and therefore Croatia’s government is in favour of lifting the restrictions for employment, thus facilitating the free movement of workers.
The State Secretary Davis informed the Croatian side of the British views on the future UK-EU relations.
Minister Pejčinović Burić said that Croatia was supportive of creating a framework for partnership between the EU bloc and Britain post-Brexit, and that Zagreb was committed to boosting bilateral cooperation in new circumstances.
