Croatia Supports the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline Project

The government today accepted a Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Albania, the Republic of Croatia, and Montenegro regarding the provision of support and cooperation in the implementation of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline project and the Ionian-Adriatic Pipeline project.

It was emphasized that this project would provide Croatia with more diverse energy sources, thereby ensuring energy and geopolitical independence.

The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Vesna Pusić, explained that it is of absolute interest to Europe to obtain gas, as the energy source of the 21st century, from the Caspian Basin, and the current discussion, before a decision is made soon, is about which route this gas will take to Europe.

One route, Pusić noted, is Nabucco West (through Bulgaria and Hungary to Austria), and the other is the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, which would go through Turkey to Greece, Albania, and cross the Adriatic Sea to Italy.

In the case of choosing the Trans-Adriatic route, there is a possibility that a pipeline could be drawn from Albania to Croatia and Montenegro.

This would place Croatia in a position to have more diverse energy sources and thus ensure energy and geopolitical independence, Pusić emphasized.

Through the Memorandum, Croatia supports the decision to choose the route of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline.

– Of course, consortia of companies make the decision, but by expressing this interest, we are providing an additional argument for the decision on the route that is in Croatia’s interest – stated the First Deputy Prime Minister.

The government has amended and supplemented the Decision on the temporary facilitation of entry for foreigners into the Republic of Croatia, based on valid Schengen residence permits and visas, extending this possibility until January 1, 2014, when this issue will be regulated by a decision of the European Commission.

– We have additionally ensured, and the Commission has accepted and will incorporate, according to the information we have, in its decision, that citizens of some countries that are not recognized by all EU member states, but have a Schengen visa, can enter Croatia with it. In translation, citizens of Kosovo can enter Croatia if they have a Schengen visa – explained Pusić.

The government has submitted amendments to the Law on Preschool Education and Training for a second reading in Parliament, which, among other things, prescribes the obligation to introduce preschool programs for all children, one year before starting primary school.