Duties hosting the new EU presidency

Croatia will head the EU presidency on 1 January 2020, succeeding Finland. That means a host of conferences, to be led by Croatian diplomats. What does the country gain from this?

Six months' chairmanship of the EU presidency for each member country, which offers the chance to be presented as a good host and present or provide direction to the EU's complex topics. Some of the founding states of the union such as Luxembourg have had the EU presidency 12 times in rotation, which has already turned them into routine and do not need additional collaborators for organising conferences. Other major states have a worse image in the EU capital in Brussels. Like.

Great Britain, which in January would emerge from the EU, was considered chaotic, well-organised and with little creative spirit. Germany, which is the largest EU member state and which ranks in the second half of next year to lead the presidency, is seen as capable of achieving the goals, but also very bureaucratic and pedant. Germans engage hundreds of additional diplomats in Brussels' representation to successfully manage the six-month presidency.

The Boasting of the Cliths

And now Croatia has a premiere. The newest member country since 2013 will head the EU Council presidency for the first time. Many EU citizens also in Brussels recognise from Croatia only the coast as a holiday destination. Now the Croatian government has the chance to show other sides of the country. This could work, politicalologist Louisa Slavkova thinks after the Bulgarian presidency in 2018, which also led the EU for the first time. „depending on how big a country is, it manages to put one or two emphasis on the EU. Besides, the previous country's policy in this rotation --” continues, Louisa Slavkova says in an interview for the Körber Foundation. Bulgaria as the next president has become in the most well-known circles among journalists, politicians and some businessmen. „This period has attracted attention to this place. Perhaps this helps to overcome some common cliche for the country”, says policyologist.

Croatia can achieve the same. How stable this effect is and what concrete impact it has on tourism or investments, that is unclear. In general, however, the assessments of experts and analysts are that the period of a country's EU presidency serves as a good platform for relations with the country's respective public that leads the EU in rotation.

Croatian diplomats and officials will conduct hundreds of meetings in Brussels, but will also represent the EU at international conferences such as Klima, summit and during visits to Asia or Africa. Croatia will be presented as best and apply for accession to the Schengen area without control of movement of persons. Ensure the borders and control of migration as a result will undoubtedly be Croatia's presidency's sticking point.

Western Balkans a milestone

Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grliæ Radman has taken over to commit to bringing the Western Balkans into the EU. He wants France on the move to give up the veto, which has blocked EU enlargement with the opening of membership negotiations with Albania and Northern Macedonia. This surprise Paris veto in the fall was a diplomatic companion for Germany, the EU and Croatia. „but even such a friend can be useful”, Foreign Minister Radman said at the Euractive internet portal. „This may help a bit, so that we can focus and seriously proceed when it comes to concrete decisions. We try to strengthen awareness of how important enlargement is both for the EU and not for neighbouring countries only.” Croatia will be engaged as an honest mediator, the foreign minister said. The Croatian presidency's peak point will be the May 6th and 7th enlargement summit in Zagreb, on which the road to exit from the dead. /DW