During the meeting, which was also attended by the Croatian member of the ECA, Ivana Maletic, Plenkovic presented the priorities of Croatia's presidency of the EU and spoke of the steps planned regarding the regulation of relations between the EU and the United Kingdom following Brexit, negotiations on the new EU budget, the Zagreb summit and the Conference on the Future of Europe.
Plenkovic and Lehne exchanged their opinions on the adoption of the new EU Multi-annual Financial Framework for the next budget period from 2021 to 2027 as well as the implementation of projects to date and Croatia's absorption of EU funds, the press release said.
Plenkovic said that demanding negotiations were ahead, primarily between member states, and that the matter would be discussed at an extraordinary meeting of the European Council on February 20 and 21.
After that Croatia will conduct negotiations through dialogue and trialogue with the European Commission and European Parliament concerning more than 40 bills related to the MFF.
Noting that Croatia is the youngest EU member which is currently using its first full financial envelope, Plenkovic said that it is important to reach an agreement on the new MFF as soon as possible so that projects and absorption of funds can begin on time.
He recalled that of the €10.7 billion that Croatia had at its disposal for the financial period 2014 to 2020, contracts worth a total of €9.2 billion had been agreed, which is 86% of the allocation, while the absorption rate at the beginning of the term of this government was nine percent.
Lehne underscored that the ECA advocates simplified procedures, greater flexibility and cutting red tape in implementing the MFF so as to ensure the efficient use of European funds, the press release said.