From:Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne TD, today (24 June) welcomed the State Secretary for Europe of the Republic of Croatia, Andreja Metelko-Zgombić, to Dublin ahead of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU, which begins on 1 July.

The meeting provided the opportunity to discuss key files on the European agenda as well as Ireland’s growing bilateral relationship with Croatia. Minister Byrne set out Ireland’s recently published EU Presidency Priorities, with a focus on competitiveness, the need to progress EU enlargement, finding agreement on the next long-term EU budget, and protecting the values that underpin the EU.

Commenting on the meeting, Minister Byrne said: “Following my visit to Zagreb earlier this year, I was pleased to welcome State Secretary Metelko-Zgombić, to Dublin. Progressing EU enlargement is one of Ireland’s key EU Presidency priorities and I was glad to gain State Secretary Metelko-Zgombić’s insights and views on this area. It was also welcome to explore the priority areas in which our cooperation could be intensified, such as competitiveness and finding agreement on the next EU long-term budget.”