MOSTAR, December 29 (FENA) - Enlargement of the European Union to the southeast of Europe will be one of the three key issues that the European Union will address during Croatia's EU Council presidency, which begins on January 1, 2020, said Croatian Foreign and European Affairs Minister Gordan Grlić Radman in Mostar yesterday.
As Chairman of the Committee on Foreign and European Affairs of the HDZ Croatia he met with HDZ BiH President Dragan Čović and presented topics that the Council of the European Union will primarily address during Croatia’s six-month presidency of the European Council.
Talking about the EU's enlargement to the southeast of Europe, Grlić Radman emphasized that the Republic of Croatia wants to see Bosnia and Herzegovina at that point, reiterating that BiH's EU membership is a strategic interest of the Republic of Croatia.
"It is important for us during the Croatian presidency to open accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, which was the goal of many member states, but some countries were not in favor. Croatia will do its best to send a clear message to all southeast European countries that they have a perspective in the EU," the Croatian Foreign Minister said.
Čovicć informed Minister Grlić Radman about the position of the Croatian people in BiH, about BiH's Euro-Atlantic path and how Croatia can help BiH on that way.
"After the government formation in BiH and the creation of political stability, we will try to make up for lost time so that BiH can open its European negotiation process and reach the position of North Macedonia and Albania, if possible," Čović said.
Grlić Radman added that Croatia will continue to be a sincere and active advocate for BiH's Euro-Atlantic path.
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