Jakovčić: Plenković had to be braver, the Slovenians missed ‘the whole football’

‘Croatia has strong arguments and we should not be afraid of what will happen in court,’ commented MEP Ivan Jakovčić while guesting on N1 television’s program regarding the oral statement of Croatia and Slovenia, convened by the European Commission, following Slovenia’s accusations that Croatia, by refusing to apply arbitration, is violating European and international law.

When asked what he expects from today’s hearing, he emphasized that ‘it will not result in anything concrete today, but he believes that the European Commission will help in finding a solution.’

>>>Cerar’s tactics on the implementation of arbitration under fire from Slovenian media

‘Croatia has practically won in that dispute, and Slovenia has not achieved any of its strategic goals. If the Commission offered an agreement of similar text, both Croatia and Slovenia could accept it, and I think that would be an excellent solution,’ said Jakovčić.

‘I think Slovenia has no chance of getting anything in court, they started with Article 259, and they were told to start with Article 273. They mixed everything up, they actually ‘missed the whole football,’ he concluded.

>>>Plenković assessed that relations with Slovenia are not dramatic

He believes there were mistakes on the Croatian side as well.

‘I think we made several mistakes, I think the lobbying was too weak, too thin, we invested too little. As for Andrej Plenković’s behavior, he is a diplomat, he played hot and cold, but he should have been braver, to say that we won in the dispute, and to find a solution.’