Croatian Presidency of the Council of the EU: from words to action?

MEP Irena Joveva and Klemen Grošelj on Friday, 17. January attended a joint sitting of parliamentary committees – for the European Union (EU) and foreign affairs where they addressed the members of the Slovenian National Assembly. The focus point of a joint sitting of parliamentary committees was on presenting the priorities of the Croatian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Why is it important for MEPs to attend sessions at the Slovenian ‘Temple of Democracy’, of course if time grants? According to Joveva and Grošelj, it is appropriate to inform the deputies in the National Assembly of the current developments in the European Union and, consequently, the Slovenian general public.

Brexit, the European multi financial budget, Conference on the Future of Europe, environmental legislation … Croatia has taken over the EU Council Presidency in a time of major change, and in the next six months will face these huge challenges. However, our southern neighbours have set some priorities themselves. Among them, MEP Joveva highlighted addressing demographic change, enlargement of the EU to the Western Balkans and respect for EU core values, such as the rule of law.

These days, namely, Croatian politicians and diplomats clearly and conspicuously emphasise that they will “safeguard the rule of law as a fundamental value”. Therefore, they can reasonably be expected to put this into practice, Joveva said at the January plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg and at last joint session of the relevant committees of the National Assembly. She added that she expects Croatia not only to respect the rule of law but also to respect the human rights of all people: “The Croatian Prime Minister had to defend himself against allegations about Croatia’s treatment of migrants in the European Parliament. Although he denied those allegations, most of my colleagues – with me included – justifiably do not believe him. In the meantime, it is quite clear that the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, is aware of some of the problems, which has announced control mechanisms in response to my question, but details are still a matter of discussions with the Member States.”

Joveva also expressed her expectation, considering the Green Deal has been approved by the European Parliament, Member States will also fulfill their words and commitments on environmental policy. She expressed the hope, that this was not just because green is modern: “Even though  this is very ambitious, I hope to experience a carbon-free society in 2050.”

The key challenges that will mark this year and thus the Croatian EU Council Presidency are outlined by MEP Klemen Grošelj. “With its departure from the EU, the United Kingdom is taking away 16% of its resources to EU, which means that it will either have to be partially compensated or reduced in the budget or inflows,” he said, pointing out that one of the leaver to solve this problem is certainly so-called a just transition mechanism (to a carbonless society).

“It is also a system that would prevent carbon products from being flooded in the European market from third countries under the free trade agreements we already have. The strategic issue raised by the budget is the relationship between traditional policies, such as cohesion and agriculture, and contemporary proposed policies on the other hand which comprise the Green Deal,” Grošelj said. According to him, we should be aware that the policy will only strengthen its credibility when the difference between the written directions, set goals or wishes and implementation is as small as possible.

Regarding the EU’s position on global stage, the MEP warned,we should stop thinking about the industries of individual Member States but of a common, European industry.

Joveva and Grošelj also recalled the planned conception of the Conference on the Future of Europe. A platform, on which the European institutions, and the citizens, are conjectured to participate. For such a platform, the most important thing is that: “We are not only talking and promising them endlessly but also prove that we hear them, listen to them and especially respect them.”