Croatia

ZAGREB, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) needs to send a clear message to the Western Balkan countries and remain close to EU-aspiring countries, European Council President Charles Michel said here on Thursday.

Michel is in Croatia to mark the official beginning of the country's six-month rotating EU presidency. During a joint press conference with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, Michel said that Western Balkan countries should have a European perspective, as this will also demonstrate the EU's external influence.

ZAGREB, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Croatia began to preside over the Council of the European Union (EU) on Wednesday, the first time since its EU accession in July 2013.

In his New Year's message, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic mentioned Tuesday that the presidency will further enhance the political and economic affirmation of Croatia in 2020, and that the new year will be a year of further economic development and international positioning of Croatia.

ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Voters in Croatia cast ballots Sunday in a tight presidential election, with the ruling conservatives seeking to keep their grip on power days before the country takes over the European Union’s rotating presidency for the first time.

Some 3.8 million voters in the EU’s newest member are picking among 11 candidates, but only three are considered to be the front-runners.

Conservative incumbent Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic is running for a second term, challenged by leftist former Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic and right-wing singer Miroslav Skoro.

ZAGREB, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Foreign ministers of the Adriatic Trilateral countries on Friday agreed on more initiatives for the enlargement of the European Union (EU) and the cooperation of southeast European countries with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

At the fourth thematic meeting held in Croatian coastal city Zadar, foreign ministers of Croatia, Montenegro and Albania were joined by their counterpart from North Macedonia as guest.

ZAGREB, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Southeast Europe is one of the priorities of Croatia's presidency of the Council of European Union (EU) in the first half of 2020, Croatian officials were quoted by national news agency Hina as saying on Tuesday in Osijek.

The foreign minister and defense minister noted that Croatia will help its neighboring countries on their path towards the EU because security and stability of the region are important not only to Croatia but also to the whole of Europe.

ZAGREB, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The European People's Party's (EPP) congress adopted here on Thursday a resolution in which they reject climate skepticism, "green socialism" and "Utopian environmentalist policies".

The party believes that green innovation is conducive to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the Croatian news agency HINA reported.

"Investments in research and development of all available low-carbon and carbon-free technologies to reduce greenhouse gases are necessary to achieve zero net emissions," the resolution said.

ZAGREB (Reuters) - Croatia will hold its presidential election on Dec. 22, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Thursday.

The election will pit the incumbent Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, candidate of the ruling center-right Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), against the candidate of the Social Democrats and former prime minister Zoran Milanovic. Two independent candidates also have solid support in the polls.

The job is largely ceremonial. The president cannot veto laws but has a say in foreign policy and defense.

ZAGREB, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Wednesday set out four priorities for his country's presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), highlighting "a Europe that connects".

Croatia will take over the Council of the EU's rotating presidency from Jan. 1 to June 30 next year.

ZAGREB, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Ursula von der Leyen, the new President-elect of the European Commission, said here on Tuesday that Croatia is a success story of the European Union (EU) and role model for other countries.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic informed von der Leyen during their meeting of his country's preparations for the EU Council presidency, which begins on Jan. 1, 2020.

15 July 2019; DW: Croatia has consistently denied illegally deporting refugees to neighboring Bosnia-Herzegovina. But in a recent TV interview, the Croatian president admitted border guards were forcing migrants back over the border.

Croatia, a member of the European Union since 2013, is aiming to join the border-free Schengen area. But it has become increasingly clear to what lengths the government will go so Croatians can enjoy this freedom of movement.