Mariya Gabriel: Bulgaria and Croatia have an active and consistent partnership for a sustainable future of South East Europe
20 February 2024 News
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Mariya Gabriel paid an official visit to Croatia at the invitation of the Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, Gordan Grlić-Radman. During the visit, the Deputy Prime Minister held a meeting with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.
This visit was an opportunity to build on what was achieved during the visit of Minister Grlić Radman to Sofia last September.
‘Bulgaria and Croatia are friends and allies, developing an active and consistent partnership, giving stability and good prospects for the future. We reaffirmed our shared commitment to work together on connectivity in infrastructure, transport, trade, energy, education and innovation to ensure a more sustainable future for our countries and the talents in the region. The Three Seas Initiative and the construction of the North-South corridor are of strategic importance for the region,’ the Deputy Prime Minister said.
Mariya Gabriel and Gordan Grlić-Radman reaffirmed the common commitment with the Joint Declaration of Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Greece in support of regional cooperation adopted in September last year.
Mariya Gabriel thanked Minister Grlić-Radman for Croatia’s strong support for our country’s accession to the Schengen area and the euro area. The ministers also stressed that the accession of Bulgaria and Croatia to the OECD will contribute to improving the economic stability, investment climate, stability and security of the region. The possibility of setting up a working group between Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania to exchange good practices in the process of accession to the OECD was also discussed.
‘Bulgaria and Croatia have proven that they are predictable and reliable partners within the EU, NATO and on the international stage. Our countries have a key role to play in the security and stability of Southeast Europe. We remain strong supporters of the European perspective of the Western Balkans. Our support for the development of the Western Balkans is the basis for future joint initiatives creating more opportunities for people, businesses and the region’, Mariya Gabriel underlined.