Slovenian parliament speaker seeks fresh impetus in relations with Croatia

The President of the Slovenian National Assembly, Urška Klakočar Zupančič, visited Zagreb on December 3-4, calling for renewed efforts to resolve longstanding issues with Croatia. During her visit, she engaged with Croatia's top officials, reaffirming the strong bilateral relationship despite unresolved matters. Both nations have opted to focus on areas of cooperation rather than dwelling on contentious issues, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.

Klakočar Zupančič expressed her desire for more productive discussions on open issues, particularly those affecting border regions. "I hope the two countries can initiate talks on matters that impact the people, especially in border areas," she said after her third meeting with Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković in just over a year.

In the last 15 months, the two parliaments have significantly enhanced their collaboration. They both agreed to continue strengthening their ties and urged their governments to address the outstanding issues to move forward. Klakočar Zupančič pointed out the stagnation in resolving complex bilateral issues, some of which have remained unresolved for years.

The Slovenian Parliament President highlighted the unresolved border dispute and the complications arising from the succession of the former Yugoslavia. She noted the lingering dissatisfaction among those directly or indirectly affected by these issues.

Border dispute continues The border dispute has been a sensitive issue for both countries, particularly since Croatia has refused to accept the 2017 arbitration ruling. The dispute has notably impacted Slovenian fishermen, who have received government compensation for losses due to restrictions on fishing in disputed waters.

Parliamentary leaders to push for resolution Klakočar Zupančič and Jandroković both emphasized the importance of Slovenia and Croatia demonstrating their ability to engage in constructive dialogue and reach compromises. Klakočar Zupančič expressed optimism that this visit would lead to tangible actions on both sides. Jandroković echoed her sentiment, stressing the importance of enhancing cooperation in various areas of mutual interest, pointing to the robust trade and cultural relations between the two countries.

Bilateral trade reached €7 billion last year, and Slovenia is the second-largest group of visitors to Croatia. Both leaders discussed ways to further strengthen ties and ensure progress on common goals. Klakočar Zupančič also met with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and President Zoran Milanović, who called Slovenia Croatia’s best neighbor.

During her discussions with Plenković, they focused on the importance of solidarity in the face of natural disasters and cooperation in securing renewable energy sources. Both agreed that dialogue should continue to resolve open issues to prevent burdening future generations.

Commitment to minority rights Minority issues were also a key theme of Klakočar Zupančič’s visit. She met with representatives of the Slovenian community in Zagreb and expressed appreciation for their efforts. The Slovenian community has long advocated for the Slovenian Home in Zagreb, which has been operating for 95 years, to gain ownership of its premises. Klakočar Zupančič raised this issue with both Plenković and Jandroković, who pledged their support.

Both parliamentary leaders committed to ensuring the rights of the Slovenian community in Croatia and the Croatian community in Slovenia are respected. However, while the Slovenian Constitution recognizes only Italian and Hungarian minorities, Jandroković emphasized that efforts would continue to protect the language and culture of Croats in Slovenia.