Minister Grlić Radman meets with Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Petr Macinka

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman met on Friday, 24 July 2026, with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Petr Macinka, who is on an official visit to Croatia. The meeting reaffirmed the very good and friendly relations between the two countries, characterised by an intensive political dialogue and well-developed economic cooperation.

In addition to bilateral relations, the ministers discussed current European and international issues, with a particular focus on European security and defence, the European Union's new Multiannual Financial Framework, energy security, including nuclear energy, and the EU enlargement policy, particularly with regard to the Western Balkans. They reaffirmed the importance of continued close cooperation within the European Union and NATO.

Particular attention was devoted to the European Union's enlargement policy and the Western Balkans. Grlić Radman stressed that Croatia and the Czech Republic share the view that the enlargement process must remain credible, predictable and merit-based, with full EU membership as its ultimate objective. He added that this shared position had also been reaffirmed at the meeting of the Friends of the Western Balkans Group, held in Rome on 10 July 2026.

Grlić Radman underlined that Croatia strongly supports Montenegro's European path, while also emphasising that outstanding bilateral issues should be resolved through dedicated meetings and direct dialogue. He noted that the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, had been informed of Croatia's invitations to convene meetings of the bilateral working groups in Zagreb, to which the Montenegrin side has yet to respond. In light of recent public statements by Montenegro's representatives, the Croatian side expects a positive confirmation that these meetings will be held in the near future.

The minister also emphasised that Bosnia and Herzegovina's European perspective is of particular importance to Croatia. He stressed that a stable, functional and European-oriented Bosnia and Herzegovina is in the interest of the European Union as a whole and that the reform process should continue in full respect of the country's constitutional order and the equality of its three constituent peoples.

The meeting also highlighted the excellent cooperation in the fields of defence and law enforcement, welcoming the joint procurement of TATRA military vehicles as well as the long-standing participation of Czech police officers in the Safe Tourist Destination project. Grlić Radman noted that the Croatian minority in the Czech Republic and the Czech minority in Croatia represent a strong link between the two countries, both of which maintain high standards of protection for the rights of national minorities.

On the day before the meeting in Zagreb, Ministers Grlić Radman and Macinka visited Split, where they laid wreaths in memory of the Czech nationals who tragically lost their lives in the collision between a sailing yacht and a catamaran in June this year. On that occasion, they also met with Czech police officers participating in the Safe Tourist Destination project during the tourist season.

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