merrion street

The Minister of State for European Affairs, Helen McEntee, had a bilateral meeting today with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, Ms. Marija Pejčinović-Burić. 

The focus of the meeting was on the future of Europe and on Croatia’s presidency of the European Union in 2020. The Minister assured the Deputy Prime Minister that she could count on Ireland’s support for Croatia’s presidency.  Both Ministers agreed on the importance of protecting traditional policies, such as the common agricultural policy and cohesion policy, during the negotiations on the next multi-annual financial framework (MFF) while ensuring the EU can adapt to evolving priorities.  

Ireland and Croatia are both committed to the accession of the countries of the Western Balkans and they took the opportunity to look ahead to the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Sofia in May.  Minister McEntee also briefed the visiting Minister on her visit in February to Serbia, Bosnia Hercegovina and Montenegro.  

Later, the Deputy Prime Minister spoke at the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) on the theme of “The EU’s way forward: a view from Croatia.”