Europe Asia News

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said that in his talks with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and European Investment Bank (EIB) Global Advisory Council Chairman Paolo Gentiloni, they discussed the challenges facing the Mediterranean, with migration, conflicts in the Middle East, EU enlargement and demographics among the main topics.

Addressing the impact of conflicts in the Middle East on energy markets, Plenkovic noted that rising oil and natural gas prices and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz affect economic growth and create inflationary pressures.

Plenkovic said, “The energy transition and diversification of supply, strengthening infrastructure and developing connectivity remain key challenges.”

Commenting on EU enlargement, Plenkovic said there had been a tendency to accelerate the enlargement process following Russia's second attack on Ukraine, while arguing that candidate countries should meet the same criteria.

Plenkovic said, “Commitment to fundamental European values is important for all candidates. The glorification of war criminal Ratko Mladic is absolutely incompatible with the values that form the foundation of European integration.”