Croatia particularly interested in European affordable housing plan

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković attended the European Council meeting in Brussels, where continued support for Ukraine, strengthening European defense, the competitiveness of the European economy, and affordable housing were discussed. He emphasized that Croatia is particularly interested in a European affordable housing plan, given the Government's activities in implementing the national housing policy. He assessed that this topic is a problem for all European countries, as is the necessity of demographic revitalization.

Upon arrival, in a statement to the media, Prime Minister Plenković reported on this morning's meeting of European citizens, expressing his satisfaction that Croatia will host the European People's Party summit in Zagreb at the end of January.

"My colleagues will have the opportunity to see what the situation is like in Croatia and it will be an opportunity to put certain topics that are interesting to us on the agenda," said Plenković.

He announced that next year will be a year of major summits, and that in addition to the European People's Party summit, the Three Seas Initiative and EU MED 9 summits will also be held in our country.

EU-Egypt Strategic Partnership

Prime Minister Plenković reported that a working meeting was held last night with Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, with whom they discussed, among other things, the situation in the Middle East.

He assessed Egypt's contribution to the implementation of Trump's 20-point peace plan as important.

Plenković said that the Agreement on the Strategic Partnership between the European Union and Egypt has also received its financial dimension, and it is about four billion euros of support to Egypt from the EU. He added that this most populous country in the north of Africa is an important trade partner.

Affordable housing is a problem for all European countries

The Prime Minister emphasized that Croatia is particularly interested in the publication of a European affordable housing plan, given the Government's activities in implementing the national housing policy. He assessed that this topic is a problem for all European countries, as well as the necessity of demographic revitalization.

"At this summit, we can also see how national priorities and topics that are horizontally drawn across all member states, and are not necessarily within the jurisdiction of European institutions, are intertwined," said Plenković.

The peace plan for Ukraine must include the principle of territorial integrity

The European Commission should consider legal options for using frozen Russian assets for financial assistance to Ukraine in the next few weeks, but in a way that would not lead to excessive legal risks, Plenković said after a meeting of the European Council. He stressed that a peace plan for Ukraine must include the principle of territorial integrity and the reintegration of its occupied territories.

The key topic was continued support for Ukraine, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said in Brussels. He said that the meeting discussed all aspects of support for Ukraine in the years ahead, from financial support for Ukraine's economic and financial lifeline to continued military assistance.

He added that options for using the so-called immobilized assets of the Russian Central Bank were also considered. No documents have been adopted, but the European Commission is expected to consider legal options in the coming weeks to address this possibility, but in a way that would not lead to excessive legal risks given the sensitivity of the topic, Plenković explained.

Any solution that will lead to Ukraine being left without territory after this kind of brutal Russian aggression against Ukraine is bad for Ukraine, but also bad for all democratic and free countries in the world, Plenković pointed out. He explained that by the principle that the bigger, stronger, stronger, more armed and more aggressive wins, everyone's territories would be questioned. If the defense of the principle of territorial integrity is relaxed, then the only question is which country will be next in a few years, Plenković concluded.

Establishing an International Stabilization Force for the Gaza Strip

The issues of the Middle East and migration were also discussed, the Prime Minister continued, saying that the discussion was brief given that everyone welcomed the peace plan of US President Donald Trump and that further steps in monitoring the ceasefire are now expected, as well as decisions at the Security Council level on the establishment of an international stabilization force for the Gaza Strip.

Regarding housing policy, the Prime Minister highlighted two topics that are particularly relevant for Croatia, namely the issue of demographic revitalization with measures for affordable housing. He recalled that the Government adopted the National Housing Policy Plan at the beginning of this year.

He said that all EU member states have similar, almost identical problems, from excessive, excessively high real estate prices to problems with short-term or long-term rentals. At the meeting, it was agreed to put these issues on the agenda as often as possible in order to help European measures solve some of the fundamental national problems, said Plenković.

Simplifying European legislation

Competitiveness and the dual transition were also discussed.

The simplification of European legislation, a kind of simplification of regulations, was welcomed by everyone, said the Prime Minister. He explained that these are the so-called Omnibus resolutions, six packages, which should relieve the economy in terms of reporting, compensation and regulatory adaptation, so that the European economy can strengthen its competitiveness in relation to other markets.

Regarding the climate goals until 2040, Plenković said that the principle of solidarity and taking into account the specificities of each country are particularly important for Croatia, given the different starting positions since 1990. In any case, we are moving towards energy transition and renewable energy sources, he concluded.

He also referred to the conversation with the President of the European Bank Christine Lagarde and the President of the Eurogroup Paschal Donohoe, at which they discussed the growth projections of the European Union and the eurozone for the coming year. With its growth of over 3 percent, Croatia will be far above the average this year, announced the Prime Minister and emphasized the importance of measures to reduce inflationary pressures. 

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