Скачать или смотреть Andrej Plenković EU debates Croatian Presidency priorities in Strasbourg

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković presented the programme of activities of the Croatian Presidency in Strasbourg. The Croatian presidency’s programme focusses on four main priorities: a Europe that is developing, a Europe that connects, a Europe that protects, and an influential Europe.

The topics the Croatian presidency will deal with include Brexit and the EU's long-term budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027.

Croatia joined the EU in 2013 and will hold the presidency of the Council for the first time. The country took over this duty from Finland on 1 January and will hand it over to Germany on 1 July.

Apart from the priorities of the Croatian Presidency which have been highlighted in previous days, Plenković stressed that for his country, there were two major national goals – joining Schengen and the Eurozone.

Plenković, who is experienced in EU affairs, having dealt personally with his country’s EU accession dossier, spoke for 75 minutes with the journalists, replying to their questions in English and in French, two languages he speaks fluently.

Croatia highlights its Schengen and Eurozone ambitions!
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In fact, hardly any other country has taken over the presidency facing so many crucial and difficult challenges as Croatia. Its presidency comes at a time of change for the EU, following the elections of a new European Parliament, a new European Commission, and Brexit, with a member state leaving the EU for the first-time in a cloud of uncertainty about its future relations.

Add to this the sudden increase in international tension, which puts EU’s diplomacy to the test, populism in EU member states, uneven economic development, existential climate change, and migration. These are only are some of the challenges listed in Croatia’s programme and facing the EU and its citizens.

In an attempt to prioritize, Croatia has divided its programme into four pillars: A Europe that develops; A Europe that connects; A Europe that protects; and An influential Europe. These four pillars are united in the motto “A strong Europe in a world of challenges”, which summarizes the vision of the EU acting for the benefit of its Member States and its citizens.

Many of the economic issues, including the new European Green Deal, fall under the first pillar. An agreement on EU’s long-term budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2021 – 2027, is crucial for achieving EU’s goals and Croatia aims at arriving as swiftly as possible to a comprehensive and balanced solution.

Discussions on the Green Deal and the different actions foreseen to combat climate change will take up much of the time in the coming months. Agriculture is an important policy area in the Green Deal. The Commission plans to present a “Farm to Fork” strategy for a more sustainable food policy. It will also propose that at least 40 % of the agriculture budget will contribute to climate action.

Under the pillar of “A Europe that connects”, Croatia aims at encouraging polices that will strengthen infrastructural connectivity and bring people together through education, culture and sports. Andrassy also highlighted the “Conference on the Future of Europe”, which is expected to be launched soon. “Citizens will have to play a critical role in the conference,” she promised.

As regards what we can expect under “A Europe that protects”, besides fighting terrorism, cyber threats and fake news, the Croatian presidency aims at achieving consensus where it hitherto has been missing, such as a “comprehensive” approach to migration, reforming the common asylum system and a return to the full functioning of Schengen area.

Croatia is also eager to solve the outstanding rule of law issues with Hungary and Poland. Andrassy questioned whether the article 7 process in the EU treaty, which allows the Council to suspend the voting rights of a member state, is effective. She referred to other instruments and wants to initiate a discussion on how to find a way forward.

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