Plenković at meeting with EU ambassadors insists on 'legitimate representation' of constituent peoples in BiH

(Patria) - Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković participated today in a regular working meeting with ambassadors of EU member states in Croatia, organized on the occasion of Cyprus's presidency of the Council of the EU.

On that occasion, he congratulated Cyprus and Ambassador Andreas Ignatiou on their efforts and priorities during the presidency of the Council of the EU and emphasized the importance of cooperation among member states in facing common challenges.

Current political and economic topics at the European and global level were discussed, including strengthening the competitiveness of the European economy, energy security, mitigating the consequences of the crisis caused by the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the situation in Southeastern Europe.

Plenković referred to the successful summit and business forum of the Three Seas Initiative in Dubrovnik, which confirmed the strategic importance of strengthening north-south connectivity and the interest of European and global partners in further developing transport, energy, and digital infrastructure in the region.

He also announced the MED9 summit, which will gather the Mediterranean EU member states in Split in October to further strengthen cooperation and coordination on key European issues, with a special emphasis on the challenges and priorities of the southern European neighborhood.

Regarding the situation in the neighborhood, Plenković specifically addressed the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina ahead of this year's General Elections, emphasizing "the importance of respecting the equality and legitimate representation of the three constituent peoples in the Presidency and other institutions of BiH".

Speaking about economic indicators, Plenković pointed out that Croatia's favorable macroeconomic and fiscal position is confirmed by stable economic growth, an investment credit rating of A level from all three leading world agencies, as well as Croatia's progress in the accession process to the OECD.

He also emphasized that the Government continues to implement measures aimed at protecting citizens and the economy from inflationary pressures, especially in the energy sector, while maintaining fiscal stability and competitiveness.

He also referred to the EUR 1.7 billion loan from the SAFE Instrument, emphasizing that it enables a strong step forward in the modernization of the Croatian army and further strengthening of national and European defense capabilities in the current geopolitical circumstances.