PM meeting with President Grabar-Kitarović: 11 October 2016
Prime Minister Theresa May met Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and discussed the close relationship between the UK and Croatia.
A Downing Street spokesperson said:
The Prime Minister hosted bilateral discussions with President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović of Croatia at Downing Street today.
They began by discussing the close relationship between the UK and Croatia and the opportunities to build on this, including by strengthening our defence and trade co-operation. The President said she hoped to see more UK companies and investors doing business in Croatia.
On Brexit, the Prime Minister emphasised that although the UK has voted to leave the EU we are not turning our back on Europe. She was clear that we value a good relationship with the EU and want to maintain strong ties with Croatia and our other European partners.
They also discussed the migration crisis and the pressure this has put on countries in Europe. They agreed on the importance of helping to ensure that refugees claim asylum in the first safe country they reach. The Prime Minister highlighted the need to improve how we distinguish between refugees and economic migrants.
Finally, they discussed the key regional role that Croatia can play in South East Europe, and the importance of stabilising NATO’s southern flank.