Tánaiste meets with Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney T.D., hosted a working lunch today in honour of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, Ms. Marija Pejčinović-Burić.

The Tánaiste congratulated the Deputy Prime Minister on the launch by Air Croatia of direct flights this summer between Dublin and Zagreb ,and said he was confident they would help forge new people-to-people links and strengthen commercial relations between both countries.

He thanked his Croatian counterpart for the support Croatia has given to Ireland during the Brexit negotiations and re-affirmed Ireland’s support for the Croatian Presidency of the European Union in 2020.  Croatia, like Ireland, is a strong supporter of enlargement and the two Ministers had an exchange over lunch on the European perspective of the countries of the Western Balkans.  At the meeting they also discussed a wide range of issues, including EU relations with Africa and the Middle East Peace Process.

Later, the Deputy Prime Minister spoke at the Institute of International & European Affairs (IIEA) on the theme of “The EU’s way forward: a view from Croatia.”

ENDS
Press Office
28 March 2018

Note for editors

• The Republic of Croatia joined the European Union in 2013.
• The volume of trade between Ireland and Croatia ca. €91 million per annum with the balance in Ireland’s favour.
• It is estimated that there are 17,000 Croatian citizens living in Ireland.
• Aer Lingus operates flights from Dublin to Dubrovnik, Pula and Split and Ryanair flies from Dublin to Zadar.  During her visit, the Deputy Prime Minister will launch direct flights by Air Croatia between Dublin and Zagreb.
• Ms. Marija Pejčinović-Burić is a member of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party and was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia in June 2017.  She has a degree in economics and a masters’ degree in European studies.
• She is a former Secretary General of the Europe House Zagreb.  After a career in the pharmaceutical industry, she entered Croatia’s Ministry of European Integration where she was involved, inter alia, in negotiating the EU-Croatia Stabilisation and Association Agreement and served later as a member of Croatia’s negotiating team for accession to the European Union.
• During her visit the Deputy Prime Minister will pay courtesy calls at Áras an Uachtaráin and on the Ceann Comhairle.  She will visit Seanad Éireann and have a bilateral meeting with the Minister of State for European Affairs, Helen McEntee T.D.