ZAGREB, June 14, 2019 – Croatian Foreign Minister Marija Pejčinović Burić visited Italy on Thursday and met with her counterpart Enzo Moavero Milanesi, the ministry said in a press release, adding that the two officials confirmed the good relations between the two countries and underlined the desire to further strengthen bilateral relations.
The ministers exchanged opinions on numerous regional, European and global issues of common interest such as the results of the European Parliament elections, the EU’s new institutional framework, enlargement, the multiannual financial framework, Brexit, the protection of the EU’s external borders, and the crisis of multilateralism.
The two ministers underlined the importance of the cooperation between the two countries within the Central European Initiative, whose chairmanship Italy took over from Croatia at the start of the year.
They also discussed Croatia’s chairmanship of the Council of the EU next year, extending support for the European journey of Southeast European countries. It was said that Croatia will organise a summit on that topic in Zagreb.
Minister Pejčinović Burić also met with the Italian delegation to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly.
Earlier in the day, Minister Pejčinović Burić was on an official visit to Malta, where she met with her counterpart Carmelo Abela on Thursday to talk about global and regional topics and of improving the already good bilateral relations, her ministry said in a press release.
Pejčinović Burić and Maltese Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion Minister Abela underscored the very good relations between the two countries, with the desire to intensify them, particularly in trade, culture, tourism and protection of the sea, according to the press release.
The two foreign ministers exchanged opinions on current global and regional topics, and topics related to the European Union, on a comprehensive approach to migrations, security issues, the Mediterranean and Southeast Europe.
They pointed out the need to intensify dialogue and the exchange of good practice and stances as part of Croatia’s preparations for its chairmanship of the European Union in the first half of 2020.
One of the priorities of Croatia’s chairmanship will be the European journey of Southeast Europe, which Malta too considers important, and in that regard, Croatia will organise a summit of the EU and Southeast Europe dedicated to that topic, the press release said.
During her visit Pejčinović Burić met with members of Malta’s delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Pejčinović Burić is a candidate for that organisation’s secretary-general, along with Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister Didier Reynders.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will decide on the next secretary-general by secret ballot in Strasbourg on June 25, who will then step into office on October 1.
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