Blanar: Slovakia and Croatia to Help Each Other in EU Cohesion and Agri Policy

Zagreb, April 16 (TASR-correspondent) - Slovakia and Croatia have agreed to work together to promote the priorities of both countries in the forthcoming European Union's Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034, with a view to agreeing the best possible conditions for cohesion and common agricultural support, Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) stated following the talks with his Croatian counterpart Gordan Grlic-Radman in Zagreb on Wednesday. According to Blanar, the main topic of the discussion was European issues focused on cohesion and agricultural policy. At the meeting, the ministers agreed to strengthen communication. "We are aware that there is and will be a lot of pressure on MFF. This discussion is very important for us. We want to actively support, above all, the common agricultural policy and the levelling of the playing field compared to Western countries," stressed the Slovak minister. According to him, Slovakia has only 80 percent of the European Union average of direct payments to agriculture. "Here I also asked for support and at the same time I also informed the minister that we're preparing a meeting of cohesion countries, which are grouped within the EU," he said, adding that such a meeting could take place in the autumn. In his view, a balance also needs to be struck when dealing with other challenges, including illegal migration and European defence. Slovakia also supports Croatia in its efforts to become a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), added the head of Slovak diplomacy. Meanwhile, according to Blanar, the Slovak-Croatian dialogue is at a very good level, which "reflects the exemplary care for national minorities on the part of both states". The minister also pointed to the important context of cooperation between Slovakia and Croatia in the energy sector, which, in his opinion, still has the potential to deepen relations. "After stopping the transit of gas through the Ukrainian territory, our government did its best to ensure domestic consumption, and I want to thank our Croatian partners that we have the opportunity to take liquefied natural gas (LNG) through the terminals on the island of Krk," said Blanar, adding that, however, this is a more expensive option than Russian gas, which Slovakia currently imports through the TurkStream pipeline. Restoring gas transit through Ukrainian territory remains a priority for Slovakia, he said. am