The European Union needs greater strategic autonomy

EUROPEAN POLITICAL COMMUNITY SUMMIT IN ARMENIA

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikola Pashinyan on the eve of the 8th European Political Community Summit in Yerevan. On that occasion, they signed a Joint Declaration on Strategic Dialogue between Croatia and Armenia.

Our goal is to deepen cooperation within international organizations, as well as in a number of areas: security, defense and justice, economy and infrastructure, industry, energy, education, science, culture, tourism and sports, the Prime Minister said.

They discussed cooperation within the framework of the European Union’s Eastern Partnership and the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In times of global uncertainty, it is crucial that the European Union and Armenia intensify cooperation for the stability of the European neighborhood, the meeting concluded.

The Prime Minister also met with the Apostolic Nuncio to the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Georgia, Archbishop Ante Jozić, and the Honorary Consul of Croatia in Armenia, Artashes R. Kazakhetsyan, Honorary Consul of Croatia in Armenia.

They discussed the political, social and security situation in Armenia and the wider region. The Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction that Croatian Archbishop Ante Jozić is fulfilling the important duty of papal envoy in Armenia, the country that first embraced Christianity, he emphasized.

On the eve of the European Political Community meeting, the Prime Minister answered journalists’ questions, and when asked about Georgia’s membership in the European Union, he replied that it was important for the Georgian people to decide which path they would take.

He added that there had been a setback in the accession process and expressed his belief that Georgia, once the right conditions are met and democratic processes are fulfilled in terms of the established criteria, can return to the European path.

The goal is to improve relations between Croatia and Armenia

He also referred to the meeting with Prime Minister Pashinyan, recalling that Armenia is expected to hold parliamentary elections in a month, and today’s meeting at the European Political Community summit is very important for him and Armenia.

He said that Armenia is a country of 3 million people, which is regionally and historically on the edges of Europe, with strong Russian influence and complex and layered relations with Azerbaijan for the last 50 years. All of this affects their everyday lives, he said.

He continued that Armenia now wants to get closer to the European Union, and in this context, Croatia has an important role in transferring knowledge.
 
He mentioned that Croatia, together with Slovenia, is implementing a twinning project that provides assistance to Armenia in the segment of reforms related to healthcare, and the company DOK-ING is engaged in demining the territory.

A statement on strategic dialogue was signed today, the aim of which is to improve relations between Croatia and Armenia. Our political relations are very correct. Economic cooperation is in the initial stages and we need more links and contacts, concluded Plenković, adding that he is the first Croatian Prime Minister to have ever visited Yerevan in that capacity.

Relations between the European Union and the United States: We must find ways to function as allies

We must find ways to function as allies, said Plenković when asked by a journalist about relations between Europe and the United States.

There is a 75-year history of cooperation that brings together countries on both sides of the Atlantic, he recalled, emphasizing that the role of the United States was important even at the time when the European Union was being created and built.

Over the years, these ties have been unbreakable, he emphasized and explained that occasionally there are problems and situations in which positions may differ, requiring prior consultations in order to be harmonized.

He also referred to the recent meeting of the Three Seas Initiative in Dubrovnik, which connects the Baltic, Black and Adriatic Seas and at which a number of agreements were signed, and recalled that US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright also participated.

We are trying to contribute to building elements that hold us together, not divide us, concluded Plenković.

International cooperation and alliances strengthen us

He stressed that the European Union needs greater strategic autonomy, which is why the member states, after the NATO summit in The Hague, undertook to increase defense spending.

In today’s world, no one is a priori secure; security cannot be taken for granted, said Plenković, concluding that at the same time there are processes of self-reliance and strengthening European defense.

Today’s world requires a strong emphasis on national identity and sovereignty, however, international cooperation and alliances can strengthen us, he emphasized.

He emphasized that for 10 years as Croatian Prime Minister, he has been implementing a policy of modern sovereignty.

As a nation, we are stronger if we intelligently use our strengthened international position, in terms of economic development, financing and various layers of safety nets in a situation of global, unpredictable crisis such as a pandemic, energy crisis or wars whose consequences directly affect our energy security, social situation and inflationary pressures, explained the Prime Minister.

If we are together, then we have more instruments at our disposal, he said, concluding that it is therefore desirable to implement policies that satisfy both sides.

Today’s meeting of the European Political Community is an opportunity to consider all economic, security and business issues and to connect a wider circle of countries in order to strengthen cooperation on the European continent and offer solutions for peace and development in a sensitive period, full of conflicts and conflicts.

A joint statement for the purpose of improving the ECAD program

The Prime Minister also reported on platform X that at the informal meeting of the European Coalition against Drugs on the sidelines of the 8th meeting of the European Political Community in Armenia, a joint statement was adopted for the purpose of improving the ECAD program.

He stated that more than 80 percent of illegal drugs enter Europe by sea, therefore the statement focuses on three key pillars: combating the illegal drug trade by sea and through ports, addressing the related threats of illicit financial flows, money laundering and corruption, and strengthening policies to reduce the demand, risks and harms of drug use, with an emphasis on synthetic drugs.

It is important, he added, to deepen coordination at the European level in order to more efficiently expose smuggling networks in order to reduce the availability of drugs and protect the health and safety of citizens.

“A balanced approach to the fight against drugs also means greater investments in prevention, treatment, recovery and reintegration, with a focus on young and vulnerable groups,” said Plenković.

https://vlada.gov.hr/the-european-union-needs-greater-strategic-autonomy/47016