Plenković and Golob discuss how to resolve Savudrija Bay border dispute

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković hosted Slovenia's Prime Minister Robert Golob in Zagreb on Friday for his first official visit to the Croatian capital since he took office in 2022. 

If the views on the outcome of the border arbitration process are excluded, Croatia and Slovenia are in near full agreement on any other issue, said Golob. In his view, the border needs to be set aside from the rest of daily politics.

Croatia continues to reject the outcome of the arbitration process that awarded a large portion of Savudrija Bay to Slovenia. The dispute continues to divide fishermen in the bay and fishermen on both sides have filed suits with the European Court of Human Rights. The Slovenians refuse to agree to a temporary shared fishing zone in the bay. Golob said his Government has discussed the proposal with the fishermen and it was not something they were willing to accept.

"The border issue can only be resolved if we begin informal talks and I think we're close to that today. Perhaps, we will arrive at a solution when we least expect it," said Golob.

Prime Minsiter Plenković said Croatia would be willing to participate in expert-level talks on the matter.

"We have expressed a readiness for the issue to be addressed by experts but from two angles: The implementation of the arbitration award from the Slovenian view, and from our view, where we want to seek a different solution," said Plenković.

The PM said authorities of both countries should suspend fines being issued to fishermen for crossing the water line in the interest of improving bilateral relations during the search for a solution.

The two leaders also signed two bilateral agreements on Friday. One relates to cross-border health care that will ensure that residents of northern Istria can seek medical care across the border in Isola. The second agreement has to do with natural gas. The countries have pledged to work together in case there is a natural gas shortage.