ZAGREB, April 13, 2018 – Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Friday refuted media speculation that he had the ambition to take a senior position in the European Union. He was in parliament presenting the conclusions of the European Council reached on March 22 and 23.
Asked after a discussion to clearly comment on media reports that his ambition was to take a senior position in the EU, Plenković said his “ambition is to be Croatia’s prime minister and fulfil what is set out in the party’s programme.”
Speaking of Croatia’s recent activities within the EU, he mentioned his speech of February 6 in which he said that Croatia “advocates the equality of all member states, the equality of our citizens within the EU, equal opportunities.” He said he also underlined “our joint achievements in showing, within democratically legitimate European institutions, that European policies and budgets should have the biggest benefit possible for our citizens.”
Plenković said the College of Commissioners held a meeting in February at which Croatia presented its priorities in the EU – making the country ready by 2020 to join the Schengen Area, and joining the euro area. There was also talk of building the Pelješac Bridge and the importance of EU enlargement to Southeast Europe, he added.
He said that in March the Council also discussed energy. The EU’s goal is building an integrated energy market, he added. He mentioned Croatia’s activities to build an LNG terminal, saying it should meet the highest ecology standards and that it would ensure Croatia’s gas supplies in the long term.
He went on to say that Croatia supported the continuation of EU negotiations with Mercosur and Mexico and the conclusion of agreements with Japan and Singapore. Plenković said the Council also discussed the attack in Salisbury and the response to it, migration, and relations with Turkey.
He said the Council discussed the Central Mediterranean migration route and that a meeting was held in February with Sahel countries. “Those five countries currently have 77 million inhabitants and, according to projections, there will be 130 million of them in 15 years,” he said, adding that Croatia, because of its geographical position, must keep an eye on those demographic trends.
The Council also discussed the continuation of the reform of the Dublin Regulation, with emphasis on prevention and the establishment of a common European asylum system.
Plenković said current EU chair Bulgaria decided to hold a summit in Sofia on May 17, bringing together EU member states and the countries of Southeast Europe, to “send a message of support for reforms.” He said it was important that the EU stand by the refugee agreement with Turkey, complying with its financial obligations to Ankara.
Speaking of enlargement, Plenković said he expected the European Commission to support the accession candidates at the Sofia summit. During its presidency over the EU in 2020, Croatia wants to hold a summit to stimulate reform and compliance with accession requirements, he added.
