On behalf of the government, I can say that we are happy to have Croatia as a partner, Steinmeier said at a joint press conference with Croatian Foreign and European Affairs Minister Vesna Pusic.
During his day-long visit to Croatia, the German minister met with Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic and was also due to meet with President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic.
We are partners who can rely on each other in the EU, especially in issues relating to the Western Balkans, Steinmeier said, citing the EU's new approach to Bosnia and Herzegovina that has paved the way for social reforms in that country.
Steinmeier also mentioned the partnership between Croatia and Germany in dealing with the humanitarian refugee crisis in the Mediterranean. Our European values compel us to work together to save those people, he said.
He said that the cooperation between the two countries in connection with the Ukraine crisis was good. We are working to ensure that the situation doesn't escalate militarily, he added.
According to Steinmeier, trade relations between Germany and Croatia are very good, and many German companies that have invested in the Croatian economy are contributing to economic cooperation between the two countries.
Pusic also spoke of the intensive cooperation between Croatia and Germany within the EU, Southeast Europe, in the areas of industry and energy. She said that they had also discussed free movement of labour in the EU, energy security and Croatia's entry into the Schengen area.
Steinmeier and Milanovic met earlier in the day and discussed the situation in Southeast Europe, possibilities of further EU enlargement, the crisis in Ukraine, and the EU's policy towards Russia. They both said that bilateral relations between Croatia and Germany were very good and that economic relations were improving continuously, according to a government press release.