Croatia and Slovenia relations in a good place, focus on stronger energy cooperation

Croatia and Slovenia will boost their energy cooperation by developing the gas pipeline network, and Zagreb will support Slovenia if it decides to expand the Krško nuclear power plant, the prime ministers, Andrej Plenković of Croatia and Janez Janša of Slovenia said in Zagreb on Monday.

Speaking after their meeting, Janša said that his government had already decided to expand the nuclear power plant and that the two countries were lucky to already have available space for a new block.

We do not have the kind of difficulties encountered by our colleagues in Europe who are thinking along the same lines, Janša said.

Pleković said that the decision to expand the Krško plant was up to Slovenia but that as a 50% owner of the plant, Croatia was willing to support the investment.

The Croatian PM said the two countries' energy ministers would next week discuss ways to strengthen the countries' cooperation in terms of energy after Russia's invasion of Ukraine disrupted European energy plans.

He added that Croatia had increased the capacity of its LNG terminal on the island of Krk from 2.6 to 2.9 billion cubic metres of gas, and that experts believed it could be increased to a maximum 3.5 billion cubic metres.

Plenković also stressed that the capacity of the existing gas pipelines and interconnections should be increased as well.

Janša congratulated Croatia on having decided early enough to build the LNG terminal, which, he said, was what other European countries would also now turn to, and for which EU funds would be available.

Two PMs believe agreement on fisheries in border areas will be reached soon

The talks on the border demarcation are being conducted at the ministerial level, and there are transitional models to facilitate the business of fishermen in both countries until a permanent and final solution is found, said Plenković.

 "I am optimistic that the solution will be found soon."

He added that some of the issues must be shifted for "the next term of PM Janša" because Slovenia is holding the parliamentary elections in late April.

The relations along the borderline should be relaxed and cease to be a burden for the Slovenian and Croatian fishermen as their relations can be solved in "a more benign way" than fines being issued by the police, the Croatian PM said.

Croatia and Slovenia will strengthen their energy cooperation by developing the gas pipeline network, and Zagreb will support Slovenia if it decides to expand the Krško nuclear power plant, the two countries' prime ministers also said at the news conference.

The two countries' energy ministers will next week discuss ways to boost the countries' cooperation in terms of energy after Russia's invasion of Ukraine disrupted European energy plans.

Plenković and Janša reaffirmed the excellent relations between the two countries.

Plenković said that Croatia enjoyed Slovenia's support to its aspirations to join the eurozone, the Schengen area and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

The economic ties between the two neighbours have been boosted, and the exchange increased by 34% from 2020 to 2021, according to the Croatian premier.

Plenković voiced satisfaction with the fact that in 2021, roughly 1.16 million Slovenians visited Croatia, which is 55% of the Slovenian population.

He also described Janša's visit to Kyiv on 15 March as an excellent gesture.

Janša travelled together with the Polish and Czech counterparts -- Mateusz Morawiecki and Petr Fiala -- by train to Kyiv to support Ukraine's authorities.

Text: Hina

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