Croatian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, January to June 2020

Summary:

Overview and information relating to the Croatian presidency of the Council of the European Union, running from 1 January to 30 June 2020.

Further information:

Croatia took over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 January 2020. This was the first occasion since its accession to the European Union. The motto of the Croatian Presidency is 'A strong Europe in a world of challenges'.

The presidency programme focuses on four main priorities:

• A Europe that develops;
• A Europe that connects;
• A Europe that protects;
• An influential Europe.

The priorities of the rotating presidency were discussed in several sectoral meetings of the Council of the European Union as well as by the plenary of the European Parliament (14 January). Ministers also outlined the priorities of the Croatian Presidency to parliamentary committees, in a series of meetings.

Commentary and Analysis

Balkan Insight, 05/11/2019: Enlargement ‘Hot Potato’ Awaits Croatia During its EU Presidency https://balkaninsight.com/2019/11/05/enlargement-hot-potato-awaits-croatia-during-its-eu-presidency/

Politico, 04/12/2019: EU leaders task Croatia with figuring out how to talk about the bloc’s future https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-leaders-task-croatia-with-figuring-out-how-to-talk-about-the-blocs-future/

EPRS: Briefing, December 2019: Priority dossiers under the Croatian EU Council Presidency https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2019)644220

Deutsche Welle, 31/12/2019: Croatia's EU presidency: What will it bring for Europe? https://p.dw.com/p/3VY0S

The Irish Times, 02/01/2020: The Irish Times view on Croatia’s EU presidency: A chance for growth https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/editorial/the-irish-times-view-on-croatia-s-eu-presidency-a-chance-for-growth-1.4128294

---

News

EurActiv, 31/10/2019: Croatia unveils look and feel of next year’s EU presidency https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/croatia-unveils-look-and-feel-of-next-years-eu-presidency/

VOA News, 20/11/2019: EU's Tusk: Croatia's EU Presidency Comes at Critical Time https://www.voanews.com/europe/eus-tusk-croatias-eu-presidency-comes-critical-time

Hungary Today, 29/11/2019: Orbán: Croatian EU Presidency Aims ‘Close to Our Heart’ https://hungarytoday.hu/orban-croatian-eu-presidency-aims-close-to-our-heart/

EurActiv, 11/12/2019: Croatia foreign minister: We will defend regional, farm funding in new EU budget https://www.euractiv.com/section/future-eu/interview/croatia-foreign-minister-we-will-defend-regional-farm-funding-in-new-eu-budget/

The New York Times, 02/01/2020: PM Says Croatia's EU Presidency Specific and Demanding https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/01/02/world/europe/ap-eu-croatia-eu-presidency.html

RFE/RL, 02/01/2020: Croatia Will Work To Restart EU Talks With North Macedonia, Albania https://www.rferl.org/a/croatia-restart-eu-talks-albania-macedonia/30357696.html

EurActiv, 02/01/2020: Croatia priorities at EU helm: Brexit, enlargement https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/croatia-priorities-at-eu-helm-brexit-enlargement/

The Brussels Times, 07/01/2020: Croatia takes over EU presidency with ambitious programme but faces tough challenges https://www.brusselstimes.com/all-news/eu-affairs/87769/croatia-takes-over-eu-presidency-with-ambitious-programme-but-faces-tough-challenges/

EUObserver, 09/01/2020: Croatia's EU presidency optimism beset by problems https://euobserver.com/political/147078

EurActiv, 09/01/2020: Croatia highlights its Schengen and Eurozone ambitions https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/croatia-highlights-its-schengen-and-eurozone-ambitions/

---

Official

Official Website of the Croatian Presidency of the Council of the European Union https://eu2020.hr/

Work Programme of the Croatian Presidency of the Council of the European Union http://bit.ly/2ss91KH

European Commission: Press Release, 25/06/2019: European Commission appoints new Head of Representation in Croatia and an Adviser for the preparation of the country's Council Presidency https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_19_2957

European Council: Press Release, 09/01/2020: Remarks by President Charles Michel after his meeting with Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenković https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/01/09/remarks-by-president-charles-michel-after-his-meeting-with-prime-minister-of-croatia-andrej-plenkovic/

European Parliament: Press Release, 14/01/2020: Croatian Presidency priorities discussed in the European Parliament https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20200109IPR69904/

European Commission: News, 14/01/2020: A strong Europe in a world of challenges: von der Leyen reflects on the priorities of the Croatian Presidency https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ac_20_69

European Commission: Press Release, 23/01/2020: Croatian Presidency outlines priorities to EP committees https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20200123IPR70918/

---