Minister Krstičević holds bilateral meetings with EU defence ministers in Helsinki

On the margins of the informal meeting of defence ministers of the European Union held in Helsinki, Finland on 28 August 2019 the Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krstičević held bilateral meetings with the ministers of several EU member countries.

Minister Krstičević meets with the French Defence Minister

Minister Krstičević held a bilateral meeting with the Defence Minister of France Florence Parly, during which the two sides affirmed the excellent relations between Croatia and France and outlined the possibilities for expanded defence co-operation.

Minister Krstičević briefed Minister Parly on the forthcoming Croatian presidency of the European Union and stated that the presidency entailed at once a major responsibility and an opportunity. The Minister invited the French Minister to officially visit Croatia.

Minister Parly praised the friendly Franco-Croatian relations and pledged support to further development. The bilateral defence co-operation runs primarily between the navies, and four French vessels visited Croatia in the current year.

Meeting with the new German Minister of Defense

On the margins of the meeting Minister met with the newly appointed Defence Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, with whom he discussed the development of the bilateral defence co-operation and invited the Minister to officially visit
Croatia.

Furthermore, Minister met with the Finnish Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen,the Dutch Minister Ank Bijleveld, the Greek Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos and the Hungarian Minister Tibor Benko.

Also, Minister Krstičević talked with the UN Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean Pierre Lacroix on the Croatian contribution to the UN-led operations and met with NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller.

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