Croatian PM sets out priorities for upcoming EU presidency — but Brexit to overshadow agenda

Croatian PM sets out priorities for upcoming EU presidency — but Brexit to overshadow agenda
/ Croatian government
By bne IntelliNews September 19, 2019

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic set out his government’s four priorities for the country’s presidency of the European Union in the second half of next year in a speech on September 18. 

However, it is most likely that the UK’s impending exit from the 28 member bloc will continue to overshadow EU business well into the Croatian presidency. 

Plenkovic stressed that “no one has a crystal ball” to say whether the UK will crash out without a deal on October 31, or if London will secure an extension until January 31. 

“We must be prepared for both scenarios — one will place these [Brexit] negotiations on our lap as the presiding country, and the other — if this is over — we will be the ones to lead the discussions on creating a platform for future relations between the Union and the United Kingdom. These are two tasks [ahead of us].”

Given its geographic distance from the UK and Croatia’s late entry to the EU — it was the most recent member to join in 2013 — Croatia is expected to be among the least affected countries economically by the UK’s exit. 

Nonetheless, Plenkovic voiced his strong opinions on the topic: “I have repeatedly made it clear that this was one of the worst possible decisions a union member could make after 46 years of membership, but unfortunately it happened,” he said. 

Despite the ongoing political drama, the Croatian prime minister stressed that his government plans to focus on four specific areas during Croatia’s first ever EU Council presidency, that will start six and a half years after it joined the bloc on July 1, 2013. 

As outlined by Plenkovic, these are: 

  • Growth and development, concerning the economy, the internal market, competitiveness, cohesion, convergence, environmental protection and climate change. 
  • Connecting Europe, to ensure that in the areas of transport, energy and digital, Europe is better connected so that countries like Croatia in particular will be involved in all European networks
  • Europe to protect — internal and external security, in areas from illegal migration to terrorism. 
  • A strong, agile, assertive European Union on a global scale that projects its model where one wants to embrace it, and which protects its member states and has an impact on global processes. 

Commenting on the preparations for the presidency, Plenkovic said: “I can say that the period behind us has been extremely intense, and the one that is still to come, in terms of Croatia's responsibility and intensity, is such that we could not yet perceive it in international terms and engagement, and it requires the full involvement and contribution of all of us together.”

A total of 161 events are planned during Croatia’s EU council presidency, including a summit of EU and Southeast European leaders.

 

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