PM Plenkovic: Croatia will not physically accept arbitration ruling

Croatia will not formally accept the ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration on Thursday but will learn of it online or during the actual reading, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Wednesday.

"Despite the formal signal we have received from the Arbitral Tribunal that we physically accept the ruling some time tomorrow, the government has decided that it won't do so," Plenkovic said in parliament while presenting the conclusions of European Council meetings held in Brussels last Thursday and Friday.

Croatia has announced that it will not attend the reading of the ruling on Thursday by Judge Gilbert Guillame regarding the territorial  and maritime dispute between Croatia and Slovenia.

As that ruling has no relevance for Zagreb, given that Croatia withdrew from the procedure, Croatia "will not accept it but, I assume, we will know about it when it is released on the Internet or in a live stream tomorrow afternoon. Our positions are firm and we will remain resolute and we expect firm support from the Croatian parliament," Plenkovic stressed, underscoring the importance of continuing comprehensive dialogue with Slovenia.

He added that the tribunal's decision will not be acceptable for Croatia regardless of "what any other stakeholders, any state or international organisation, will say about it."

Controlling the external borders among the most important tasks for the Union

Plenkovic reiterated that the main topics at the last European Council were security and defence, growth and employment, competitiveness, migration, the Paris climate agreement, digital Europe, and foreign affairs.

When talking about security and defence, the key emphasis was on the fight against terrorism, preventing terrorist propaganda on the Internet and protecting the EU external borders.

"A key highlight at the EU level is to prevent the radicalisation of one's own citizens. That is something that isn't that present in Croatia but it is a matter of utmost significance for some old, large EU member states with the sensitive issue of fighters returning from abroad," Plenkovic said.

We concluded that protecting the external borders is one of the most important aspects and duties of the Union's institutions and member states and as such, so-called smart borders are being prepared and should be implemented. Plenkovic recalled that Croatia was given access to the Schengen Information System on Tuesday.

With reference to growth and employment, Plenkovic underlined the importance of the decision for Croatia to be released from the corrective mechanism of the Pact on Stability and Growth, underlining positive economic indicators and trends in the EU and Croatia too.

Candidacy for the European Medicines Agency until 31 July

Another important topic was migration, and once again the importance of an agreement between the EU and Turkey was stressed. Ankara's attitude is exceptionally important and it is of capital significance whether the eastern Mediterranean route will be active or not.

Plenkovic underlined the importance of a discussion on the relocation of the European Medicines Agency, for which Croatia has expressed interest to submit its candidacy. Plenkovic said that the EU has adopted the criteria to relocate the agency and that 21 countries had expressed interest in hosting the agency.

One of the criteria in Croatia's favour is that it does not have any agencies yet, as well as its tradition of public health and pharmaceuticals. However, one important factor to be taken into account is the actual building which will have to cater to 900 employees and the fact that about 36,000 people will pass through the agency each year.

"What is important is the criteria of traffic and other benefits. The agency in London represents a high standard and that is a fact," he underscored.

Croatia will submit its candidacy within the deadline of 31 July and a decision on the relocation should be made by October.

There was also talk of extending sanctions against Russia and of the Ukraine conflict, which Plenkovic said could turn into a frozen dispute as there have not been any great results or progress. He added that Croatia was sharing its experience of peaceful reintegration with Ukraine.

Text: Hina

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