The Croatian Charges D’Affaires in Serbia Maja Bogdan said on Thursday that official Zagreb urges the expansion of the European Union with respect for European criteria.

Speaking at a conference on Croatia’s EU Presidency and its significance for the Western Balkans, Bogdan said that the intergation of the region into the EU has no alternative. Croatia feels that the EU has a historic responsibility towards the Western Balkans, she said.  

According to the Croatian diplomat, the priorities of Croatia’s EU Presidency include a Europe which protects, creates ties and has influece. She said that Zagreb supports the opening of pre-accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania, adding that this could happen as early as March this year.  

Croatia also wants to see Bosnia-Herzegovina progress on the road to the EU and both Serbia and Montenegro continue their negotiations as the regional countries which have progressed the most.  

Bogdan said that the coming EU-Western Balkans summit in Zagreb will send a strong message about European integration to the region.