Plenković at The Economist summit on the Government's priorities, EU enlargement, defense and global security

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković participated today in the Second Annual Croatia Summit organized by The Economist, entitled "Unity, Stability and Innovation in a Transformative Europe", which brought together leaders, policymakers, and experts to explore how unity, stability, and innovation can guide Europe through this transformative era. In a conversation with Joan Hoey on the topic "How Croatia can contribute to stability and prosperity in the region", the Prime Minister addressed the Government's priorities in economic and social policy, regional cooperation, and defense and security.

Talking about the Government's priorities in the second half of his third term, Prime Minister Plenković emphasized the continuation of the policies that the Government has been continuously implementing for the past nine years, with the aim of catching up with the countries that entered the European Union before Croatia.

In this context, he recalled that in 2016, Croatia was at 62 percent of the European Union's average level of development, and this year it will end at 78 percent, which shows the results of this policy.

Priorities for the coming period are demographic revitalization, energy transition, digitalization and education, he said.

Regarding employment, which is one of the most important indicators of the country's development, the Prime Minister stated that the number of employed people in Croatia is higher than ever before, around one million and 750 thousand people, and unemployment is at a record low, at around 4 to 5 percent, or around 75 thousand people.

Successful fight against illegal migration

Speaking on broader, regional topics, the Prime Minister addressed the issue of migration, especially after Croatia's entry into Schengen, since when the Croatian police have been guarding the external border of the European Union.

He said that Croatia, although located on the Western Balkans, or Eastern Mediterranean, migrant route, is now a low-intensity route.

We have not completely stopped illegal migration, but we have made it much less frequent, he emphasized, which is also shown by data from Slovenia, Austria and Italy.

We should distinguish, he added, illegal migration, which we stop with all legal means at our disposal, from legal migration, or foreign workers to whom we turn due to the needs of our labor market. There are currently about 150 thousand foreign workers in Croatia.

Strengthening defense capabilities

When asked about the introduction of basic military training, in the context of global security circumstances and the consequent strengthening of defense capabilities, the Prime Minister explained that this is not about compulsory military service as it was before it was abolished in 2008, but about basic military training that lasts eight weeks and is paid.

Those who do not want to, he added, have the option of serving in civil protection.

Explaining the reasons for introducing the training, the Prime Minister emphasized that 15,000 members of the armed forces in the changed global security circumstances is not enough, given the aggression on European soil, by Russia against Ukraine.

Over the past 10 years, he emphasized, we have had a strong transition from Eastern military technology to Western military technology.

"We have changed the legislation and put the soldier at the center. The next step is to have a wider population in Croatia that is at least familiar with basic military training," the Prime Minister emphasized.

He added that we have countries in our neighborhood that are neither in the EU nor NATO, and that we must be aware of possible instability across the continent.

Unlike previous ones, this Commison has real political will for enlargement

When it comes to further enlargement of the European Union, the Prime Minister stressed that unlike previous European Commissions, the current one has real political will to expand, adding that some kind of decision is possible by 2030 if some candidates are technically ready.

"This time we can feel the political will in the executive branch of the European Union, even in most member states, even the large ones, that maybe it is time for someone else to join after Croatia, which joined on 1 July 2013," added Plenković.

He recalled that there are two groups of candidate countries: Ukraine and Moldova in one, and the countries of Southeastern Europe, or the Western Balkans, in the other group, with Montenegro being the leading one.

However, he stressed, the bloc's absorption capacity will be crucial for the dynamics of enlargement, referring to the fourth Copenhagen criterion from 1993, which concerns the budgetary cost of enlargement and the impact of new members on relations between contributing and benefiting countries.

Another important element, he added, is the decision-making process.

"Almost 80 percent of the European budget is actually filled by the 10 richest countries of the Union, while about 20 percent goes to all other countries. The richer countries, the founders, the large, strong economies, are not necessarily excited that smaller countries, which contribute very little, come to the table and essentially decide on major policies equally, especially when it comes to issues where unanimity is required”, the prime minister said.

He recalled that the five large countries gave up two commissioners in the Commission in favor of enlargement some 20 years ago and now have the same number of influential people as the countries that contribute very little.

"Therefore, the decision-making process and budgetary implications are at the heart of future enlargement decisions," he said.

Transatlantic relations and implications for multilateralism, trade relations and global security

At the very end of the conversation, he briefly referred to transatlantic relations.

Saying that it is important to be pragmatic in these relations, he highlighted three implications of the policy of the current US administration.

The first is on the concept of multilateralism in general, considering that the United States has withdrawn from some conventions, arrangements or even organizations.

Another is the tariff policy, which has completely changed trade relations and sidelined the World Trade Organization.

And the third is security because, with all efforts to contribute to peace, how the Russian aggression against Ukraine ends will determine the future of international law and global governance and may send signals to bullies around the world that they can take one's territory while others just watch.

News