"We in the European Union will try in the next ten months to reach a compromise with Great Britain, which could lay down the foundations for the first contractual relations, thus facilitating the business and trade exchange, and the rights of British citizens in the EU and the rights of EU citizens in Great Britain," Plenkovic said in the Croatian embassy in London where he met with Croatian citizens living in the U.K.
"Being the current chair of the Council of the European Union, Croatia will give its contribution," he underscored and recalled that the negotiations between the EU and some third country usually take some time.
If the negotiations (on future relations) are completed in the next ten months, this will be a precedent in the sense of efficiency, Plenkovic said.
The Croatian premier arrived in London to attend a meeting which the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) scheduled for Monday to discuss plans for investments for the Western Balkans.
EBRD Investment Summit 2020 to take place in London
The bank says on its website that "the aim of the summit is to highlight potential investment and business opportunities in the Western Balkans region and to promote regional projects." This is the fourth EBRD summit of its kind. The inaugural Western Balkans Summit took place at the EBRD in February 2014 and, for the first time, brought together all six of the region’s prime ministers.
The meeting will be opened by EBRD President Suma Chakrabarti and the Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenkovic, in his current position as holder of the European Union presidency, the EBRD says on its website.
Plenkovic said in his address in the Croatian embassy in London that he and Finance Minister Zoran Maric would meet potential investors to notify them of the macroeconomic state of affairs and the current Croatian cabinet's achievements in the financial and economic sector: including the restoration of the confidence of two international credit rating agencies in Croatia, the reduction of the country's public debt, a well-balanced budget, a sound growth, and more favourable interest rates for the enterprise sector and for citizens.
Commenting on the relations between Croatia and Great Britain following Brexit, Plenkovic said that his country would try to develop economic cooperation, and called on prominent Croats in the business sector, in scientific and artistic domains in the U.K. to give their contribution, too.
He praised them for being "an important part of the mosaic" in building the relations between the two countries.
During his stay in London, Plenkovic will also meet British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.