Croatia strongly supports the process of enlargement of the European Union to the countries of Southeast Europe

He added that several enlargements have taken place in the meantime, and Croatia became a member in 2013. He explained that the purpose of this framework is to manage reforms and efforts for the enlargement process at the highest political level.

He said that the leaders began their talks at last night's dinner hosted by Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović, and added that the countries of Southeast Europe are at different stages of negotiations. "It is important for us that the criteria are respected and that each country proceeds according to its own merits, just as Croatia became a member," Plenković asserted.

He also said that it is in Croatia's special interest for Bosnia and Herzegovina to make even more significant strides towards the accession process, especially because of the mutual dependence of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as because of the Croats, who are a constituent people in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We have been trying, he emphasized, all these years to make this position as strong and equal as possible, but also to make the entire country move forward towards the European Union.

The Prime Minister told reporters that there are ideas on how to make this process more political and visible, recalling that enlargement has not happened for almost 13 years.

He said that in the second year of the mandate of Ursula von der Leyen's second Commission, the atmosphere is slowly changing and that there is a certain political will for some of the enlargements to happen. The Prime Minister believes that it is necessary for the countries that will join the European Union to meet the criteria, but also to create a favorable absorption climate for new members.

Resolution of outstanding issues between Croatia and Montenegro essential for completion of negotiations

On the sidelines of the summit, the Prime Minister met with Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, with whom he discussed Montenegro's European path, economic cooperation between the two countries, and the policy of enlargement to the countries of Southeast Europe.
 
Recalling that Montenegro has made the most progress in opening and closing chapters, the Prime Minister emphasized that resolving outstanding issues between Croatia and Montenegro, such as compensation for concentration camp inmates, finding fourteen missing persons, prosecuting war crimes, returning property seized from the Croatian minority in Montenegro and the training ship Jadran, as well as resolving the border issue at sea and permanently preserving the memorial plaque erected in Morinje, was important for the completion of the negotiations.

He also expressed his belief that, with political will, Montenegro could complete the negotiations by the end of 2026 and become a member of the European Union by 2028. The Prime Minister is of the opinion, after today's meeting with the Montenegrin Prime Minister, that the country is ready to work seriously on these issues that Croatia has set as a criterion, and ultimately as a condition for the completion of negotiations.

He stressed that Croatia supports Montenegro's European path, assessing it as good for our country as well.

Asked about Serbia, the Prime Minister believes that all political actors should show greater engagement towards the count