The completion of Croatia's European Union accession negotiations and its prospective entry into the Union are a huge achievement and I hope that the Croatians will realise the benefits of EU membership when going to the polls for the referendum on the matter, Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova told a news conference in Zagreb on Monday after her talks with her host, Croatian PM Jadranka Kosor.
I sincerely congratulate you on the completion of the negotiations. This has not been a simple or easy job, which is why our congratulations are more sincere, Radicova said.
The Slovak PM described the EU membership referendum, which will be held in Croatia after the signing of the country' EU treaty of accession, as a difficult test and expressed hope that Croatian citizens would realise the membership's advantages and vote for the country's entry into the EU.
She said that entering a family which was going through big problems would be a well thought-out move, alluding to the current crisis in the eurozone. Radicova pointed out the strengthening of the economy and trade as well as of the rule of law and civil society as advantages of EU membership.
Asked when the Slovak parliament would ratify Croatia's treaty of accession with the EU, Radicova answered that it would be among the first and the ratification would be done without delay.
PM Kosor thanked her Slovak counterpart and the Slovak government for the support in Croatia's efforts to finalise the EU accession negotiations.
The two premiers also discussed bilateral economic cooperation and a 14 per cent increase in trade between the two countries this year. Croatia's export to that central European country went up 30 per cent and import increased by 6 per cent.
The number of Slovak tourists visiting Croatia in the first seven months this year increased by 10 per cent to 320,000.
Improvement of bilateral relations is also reflected in the care for the 4,700-strong ethnic Croat community in Slovakia and also in the care for ethnic Slovaks in Croatia.
The two premiers announced cooperation in the energy sector and in diversification of gas supply routes. In the coming days, Croatia and Slovakia are expected to sign a bilateral agreement on the use of gas supply depots like the agreements Bratislava has already reached with Hungary and Poland.
We no longer want to go through a cessation of gas deliveries as already happened during a conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Radicova said.
