Friedrich said the European Union strongly supported infrastructure projects based on environmental sustainability, adding that EU accession was a big opportunity as well as a challenge because cities must be ready for strong competition with track records of successful projects.
"We have traditionally friendly relations with Croatia and the City of Zagreb and are willing to help our colleagues by sharing our experience and knowledge. EU accession doesn't only increase cultural and economic exchange but intensifies communication between different peoples. So we are very pleased that we will soon have the chance to meet our Croatian friends at meetings on the European level as well," said Friedrich, who is the minister for federal affairs, Europe and international relations of the German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg.
Baden-Wuerttemberg is Croatia's principal trading partner among the German states, accounting for 27.6 per cent of Croatia's exports to Germany. Croatian exports to Baden-Wuerttemberg rose 5.3% in 2012 to nearly EUR 250 million. In recent years, Croatia and Baden-Wuerttemberg realised several important cultural projects.