A CONVERSATION WITH PRIME MINISTER OF CROATIA ANDREJ PLENKOVIĆ - The Atlantic Council hosted an #ACFrontPage event with Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenković on February 22, 2023.

On January 1, 2023, Croatia joined the eurozone and Schengen area of the European Union (EU), becoming the first EU country to join both clubs simultaneously and completing the process of European integration. This marks a significant moment in Croatia’s history of independence—it was the last country to join the EU in 2013—and presents a new opportunity to reflect on the future of the EU.

In parallel to Croatia’s success, the Russian war in Ukraine continues to rage. War has upended the transatlantic security order and unraveled assumptions about peace and stability in Europe. Faced with the Russian invasion, Western allies have intensified cooperation and reinvigorated discussions about the future of EU enlargement—resulting in the EU granting candidate status to Ukraine, Moldova, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Croatian government, together with Western allies, has been active and vocal about its support for Ukraine by sending military and humanitarian support as well as by welcoming over twenty thousand Ukrainian refugees.

Plenković joined the Atlantic Council to share his perspective on the implications of the war for Europe and the Western Balkans, Croatia’s foreign-policy objectives, its entry into the eurozone and the Schengen area, and how Croatia’s Euro-Atlantic journey can serve as a source of inspiration for the Western Balkan countries and Ukraine.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: 02/22/23