The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, today welcomed his Croatian counterpart, Gordan Grlić Radman, to Madrid to boost bilateral relations with the signing of an agreement establishing political and administrative consultations and cooperation between the two countries. At the meeting, the ministers also reviewed the European agenda and key international issues.
‘The signing of this agreement on political consultations will further strengthen our high-level bilateral contacts,’ said the minister, who welcomed the signing of this commitment, which systematises the frequent contacts between the two countries.
Scientific cooperation
Spain and Croatia maintain fluid and dynamic economic relations that both countries hope to continue deepening and improving. But if there is one area in which this cooperation stands out, it is in science and technology, through one of the EU's most important strategic projects in the field of fusion energy. This is the IFMIF-DONES (International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility - DEMO Oriented Neutron Source) project, where Spain and Croatia share an interest in attracting new European partners to strengthen the project.
The facility, located in Granada, is Spain's largest investment in an international science project. The minister thanked Croatia for its continued commitment to the project. In addition to Spain and Croatia, IFMIF-DONES also involves Italy, Japan and the European agency Fusion for Energy.
EU and international affairs
During the meeting, ministers also reviewed the EU agenda and the challenges facing Europe, the need to provide adequate European funding for security and defence, in line with a higher level of strategic ambition, and the promotion of the European pillar of NATO.
The recent Mercosur agreement, the Western Balkans and the full and effective implementation of the European Pact on Migration and Asylum were other items on the EU agenda discussed at the meeting. Finally, ministers also addressed transatlantic relations and diplomatic efforts to achieve peace in the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.
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