Plenkovic receives Norway's foreign minister

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic received Norway's Foreign Minister Borge Brende on Monday, the government said in a press release.

Plenkovic expressed his satisfaction with the political relations between the two countries and the cooperation within NATO, noting that on 20 February it will be 25 years since diplomatic relations between Croatia and Norway were established.

He underscored the European Commission's winter forecast of a 3.1% economic growth in Croatia in 2017. "That is particularly important in the context of exiting the Excessive Deficit Procedure and meeting the Maastricht criteria," the prime minister said.

He noted that unemployment was falling and added that as of 1 March new measures for the unemployed would be launched, particularly the long-term unemployed and those with lower education qualifications.

With regard to bilateral cooperation, Minister Brende underlined the possibility of using the Norwegian financial mechanism - Norway Grants, which is complimentary to the Croatian government's objectives. Negotiations on this for the period up to 2021 will be launched in March.

The talks also addressed the situation in the European Union ahead of elections in Germany and France and the Brexit negotiations. There was also mention of the importance of relations with Turkey in the context of migration.

The two officials exchanged opinions on the current situation in Southeast Europe and Minister Brende underscored that Croatia is a factor of stability in this part of Europe, the press release said.

 

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