President in Albania for Brdo-Brijuni Process

President Zoran Milanović is participating in this year's summit of the Brdo-Brijuni Process underway in the Albanian city of Durres. 

The joint Croatian-Slovenian initiative, which has been meeting since 2013, aims to accelerate the further progress of Southeast European countries towards the EU; as well as strengthen regional stability and cooperation, and improve security and development.

The countries from the region which are currently on the European path are Albania, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Kosovo.

"I do not see this process as some form of mentoring of Croatia and Slovenia over non-EU countries, especially not at this level," said Milanović.

"As a president who does not have executive powers, I can state that the Croatian government provides support to all countries in the region as much as it can. It does not seem to me that it discriminates and don't believe it ever will. This Forum is very important because it primarily promotes high-level dialogue; and dialogue is a prerequisite for good relations. Even if that is all we accomplish, the purpose is valid," he said.

The EU's openness to accept new members has grown since the breakout of war in Ukraine in 2022.