First official visit from Portuguese foreign minister confirms excellent bilateral relations

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman met on Friday, 31 October 2025, with the State Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Portuguese Republic, Paulo Rangel. Rangel's visit marked the first official visit of a Portuguese foreign minister to Croatia.

Grlić Radman expressed satisfaction with the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries and thanked Portugal for its consistent support to Croatia during its accession to the euro area and the Schengen Zone. In recognition of Rangel's outstanding contribution to Croatia's accession to the Schengen Area, in his capacity as rapporteur of the European Parliament for monitoring Croatia's accession process, Grlić Radman presented him with the Order of Prince Branimir medal.

The two ministers signed a Programme of Cooperation between the Governments of Croatia and Portugal in the Fields of Language, Education and Science, Culture, Sports, Youth and Audiovisual Activities for the Period 2025-2028. The programme aims to further strengthen cooperation in these areas. The ministers also agreed on the need to establish a regular political dialogue to be structured through a Memorandum of Cooperation between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs.

Both sides expressed their wish to enhance economic cooperation, which would be further supported by the re-establishment of direct flights between Zagreb and Lisbon. Grlić Radman expressed gratitude for Portugal's support for Croatia's accession to the OECD. The ministers also discussed cooperation in the Mediterranean, in line with the recently presented Pact for the Mediterranean, and Croatia's upcoming chairmanship of the MED9 group.

The ministers underlined the importance of the European Union's enlargement policy as a driver of long-term European stability and economic growth. They highlighted the importance of the EU's engagement in the Western Balkans, particularly in countering destabilising external influences. Both countries strongly support the continuation of the EU enlargement process, based on an individual merit approach and full compliance with accession criteria, with special attention to Bosnia and Herzegovina, to ensure the equality of its three constituent peoples.

In the context of the Western Balkans, Grlić Radman reiterated at the joint press conference concerns regarding the use of the Croatian language in the operation of a kindergarten in Tavankut (City of Subotica), built with funding from the Government of the Republic of Croatia. "Such treatment of the Croatian minority in the Republic of Serbia is not in line with the provisions of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities of the Council of Europe, nor with the Agreement between the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Serbia on the Protection of Minority Rights," the minister stated, informing Rangel about the matter.

The ministers also discussed continued support for Ukraine and the importance of maintaining consistent implementation of sanctions against Russia. They expressed concern over violations of the fragile ceasefire in the Middle East and hope that the peace plan will take effect.

Croatia expressed its political interest in joining the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) as an associate observer. Through this initiative, Croatia seeks to further strengthen relations with all nine full members of the CPLP, particularly with African countries, and to become a recognised international partner of the CPLP in sustainable development projects and in promoting joint innovation in the blue economy.

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