PM Plenkovic says Croatia is Bosnia's strongest lobbyist

Opening the 20th Mostar Economic Fair 2017 on Tuesday, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said that Croatia will be Bosnia and Herzegovina's strongest lobbyist for its approaching the European Union, assessing that that process will help stabilise internal circumstances.

"In my opinion, that attempt for Bosnia and Herzegovina to catch that connection is essential for the country's functioning, its growth and development, stability and relations between the constituent peoples. Rest assured that you have friends who will be lobbyists in European institutions. That is good for Bosnia and Herzegovina and for Croatia," Plenkovic said.

He recalled that in applying for EU membership, Bosnia and Herzegovina has stepped into a new phase of European integration and now a greater degree of coordination is expected of the country. He announced Croatia's assistance in submitting the European Commission questionnaire which will show what the situation is like with the system and in meeting criteria required for opening the membership negotiations, which is the phase Serbia is currently in.

Plenkovic announced a joint meeting of the two countries' governments in June this year which is something he discussed with his Bosnian counterpart Denis Zvizdic earlier today.

Plenkovic underscored that Croatia sees Bosnia and Herzegovina as a friendly country in which it is very important to secure the equality of Croats as one of the three constituent peoples.

He assessed that the Mostar Economic Fair was a very respectable event that helps strengthen economic relations between the two countries. Last year trade between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia amounted to 1.8 billion euros, with Bosnia and Herzegovina being Croatia's primary trade partner.

Plenkovic added that one-fifth of Croatia's investments abroad were made in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"That shows how important Bosnia and Herzegovina is for us. One of the more valuable examples of cooperation is the Aluminij factory where Croatia is a co-owner," he added.

Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency Chairman Mladen Ivanic underlined that today Mostar is the centre for the entire region and he expressed his satisfaction that "Croatia is the partner country and that it is supporting its neighbour on its European journey."

About 800 companies from 30 countries are exhibiting at the Mostar Fair from 4 to 8 April, including about 20 Croatian companies.

Text and photo: Hina

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