Plenković and Kretschmann Discuss Economic Cooperation Worth Around One Billion Euros

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković met on Thursday with the President of the Government of Baden-Württemberg, Winfried Kretschmann, to discuss economic cooperation and the relations between Croatia and this German federal state, while the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Marija Pejčinović Burić, also held a separate meeting with the German official.

Plenković and Kretschmann discussed economic cooperation, which amounts to around one billion euros, with a particular emphasis on the ICT industry and investments, as well as the situation in the region and the future of the European Union, the Government’s office announced.

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At the meeting, which also included the Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds, Gabrijela Žalac, and the Minister of Science and Education, Blaženka Divjak, the traditionally very good relations between Croatia and Germany were highlighted, and the Croatian Prime Minister particularly praised the activities through the Joint Commission of Croatia and Baden-Württemberg, established in 2005.

– The numerous Croatian diaspora in Baden-Württemberg is an additional link in our good relations, assessed the Croatian Prime Minister and thanked for the material support for cultural and educational projects of the Croatian community.

Plenković welcomed Kretschmann’s visit to the Vukovar-Srijem County, as well as the co-organization of the forum “Region in Transition – Europe as an Opportunity,” which was held on Wednesday in Vukovar.

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– We believe that this is a useful contribution to the further development of regional cooperation within the framework of the European Union’s Strategy for the Danube Region, said the Croatian Prime Minister.

Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation

On Thursday, the Vice President of the Government and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Pejčinović Burić also met with the President of the Government of Baden-Württemberg, and during the conversation, good bilateral relations were confirmed, and the importance of further developing cooperation with the province of Baden-Württemberg was emphasized, where, according to official data, 112,000 Croatian citizens live.

Pejčinović Burić and Kretschmann discussed cooperation within the framework of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region and the possibilities for strengthening bilateral economic cooperation.

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The interlocutors exchanged views on the future development of the European Union and the European integration of Southeast European countries. Minister Pejčinović Burić emphasized Croatia’s support for Southeast European countries in their Euro-integration processes, with a particular emphasis on the status of the Croatian people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Ministry’s Public Relations Office announced.