President in talks with the Croatian Prime Minister and Speaker of Parliament

On the second day of his state visit in the Republic of Croatia, President of Malta George Vella exchanged views with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

The issues approached during the meeting with the Croatian Prime Minister included aspects of the Mediterranean dimension of both countries and their shared interest in climate change and migration. They exchanged information related to COVID-19 – assistance and recovery process, the vaccination procedures adopted, as well as measures taken to alleviate effects on the two countries’ respective populations. Also on the agenda was both countries’ economic performance and the way forward for the coming year.

During the exchanges, Gordan Grlić Radman, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia, gave an overview of Croatia’s foreign policy priorities. Minister of Science and Education of Croatia Radovan Fuchs and Minister for Equality, Research, and Innovation Owen Bonnici gave presentations on cooperation in the fields of innovation and research, with a view of a prospective signing of a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding.

Following the meeting with the Prime Minister of Croatia, President George Vella had a meeting with Gordan Jandroković, Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, where they discussed points of common bilateral and international issues, including EU enlargement, migration, climate change, stability in North Africa and the Sahel, and Afghanistan.

President Vella also touched upon the importance of parliamentary democracy, and expressed his firm belief in the benefits of parliamentary diplomacy as a tool that gives space to citizens’ insights in international relations. He also encouraged enhanced exchanges between Malta and Croatia through the Parliamentary Friendship Group.

Another official engagement for the President of Malta was a visit to the old town fortress of Varaždin, 81km north of Zagreb. The President and Mrs Vella were welcomed to the town by Mayor Neven Bosilj, municipal council and county officials, as well as the Bishop of Varaždin and the Vicar-General of the Diocese.

The President returns to Malta on Friday afternoon.