State Secretary Metelko-Zgombić attends GAC

State Secretary Andreja Metelko-Zgombić participated in the informal meeting of the General Affairs Council held on 11 May in Nicosia, within the framework of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Discussions focused on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the 2028-2034 period, the enlargement of the European Union, and cooperation between the EU and the UK in addressing foreign information manipulation and interference.

During the discussion on the future 2028-2034 MFF, the Council exchanged views on options proposed in response to the growing number of interconnected crises and emerging challenges, with the aim of enabling the EU to act more swiftly and effectively. Metelko-Zgombić stressed the importance of finding an appropriate balance between increased flexibility and predictability within the future MFF, which Croatia believes should retain its investment-oriented character and continue to support long-term investments, as well as further EU cohesion and convergence. She advocated that, within the proposed EU Crisis Facility, EU funds from the instrument should be used first, followed by resources from national envelopes (the so-called reverse cascading mechanism), and that the instrument should also be accessible to the fisheries sector. She also highlighted the importance of flexible and simplified procedures for the use of future financial resources in the area of migration, and underscored the importance of integrated crisis management at the EU level, supporting the strengthening and expansion of the scope of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism.

The discussion on enlargement was held with the participation of candidate countries and potential candidates for EU membership. While acknowledging that EU enlargement, in the context of changing global dynamics, represents a significant geostrategic investment in European security and stability, the state secretary noted that the enlargement process must remain merit-based, with individual assessment of each country's progress, implementation of reforms, and alignment with the EU's fundamental values, as this alone can ensure the success of the enlargement policy. She particularly highlighted Croatia's strong support for the enlargement process concerning the six Western Balkan countries, as well as Ukraine and Moldova, and singled out the progress made by Albania, Montenegro, Ukraine, and Moldova on their European paths over the past year, calling on all Western Balkan countries to continue their reform efforts. She advocated for the prompt opening of negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova under Cluster 1 (Fundamentals). She also stressed the importance of regional cooperation, good neighbourly relations, and the resolution of outstanding issues, while expressing satisfaction with the progress made in the gradual integration of candidate countries into the EU single market. In particular, she highlighted the importance of reducing roaming costs between the EU and the Western Balkans and expressed hope for the swift integration of the Western Balkan countries into the EU roaming market.

During a working lunch with the United Kingdom's Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds, views were exchanged on strengthening EU-UK cooperation in addressing foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI). State Secretary Metelko-Zgombić welcomed the further strengthening of strategic cooperation with the United Kingdom, emphasising that both the EU and the UK face similar hybrid threats and that close cooperation is essential for more effective countering of such activities. She particularly warned of the intensification of destabilising activities in the Western Balkans, including the spread of disinformation and other hybrid activities originating both from third countries outside the region and from within the region itself, and stressed the importance of the countries of the region fully aligning with EU values and the Common Foreign and Security Policy.

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