Slovenia and Croatia have a strong partnership based on common European values

President Pirc Musar expressed her satisfaction that President Milanović had chosen Slovenia for his first official visit abroad. His visit to Ljubljana is a further step in consolidating a strong political dialogue between the two countries and opening new opportunities for cooperation in various fields.
"Our two countries have a strong partnership based on friendly relations between our peoples, common European values and traditionally close economic cooperation."

They also discussed current foreign policy issues, highlighting the urgent need for stability in the Western Balkans and the European perspective for the countries of the region. In this context, they addressed the Brdo–Brijuni process, with President Pirc Musar emphasising the special responsibility of Slovenia and Croatia, as EU Member States, in maintaining dialogue in the region. "The Brdo–Brijuni process remains a platform for the leaders of the region to exchange views on its not oly political but also economic integration, in a sincere and constructive spirit. Naturally, the enlargement of the European Union is a key objective for the region's leaders. It must remain a strategic priority, as it is a process that will contribute to long-term peace, democracy and prosperity in the region," the President said. 

The meeting also provided an opportunity to exchange views on security challenges related to migration and border control. Slovenia and Croatia are aligned in their efforts to effectively manage migration flows and strengthen cooperation at the EU level. President Pirc Musar emphasised that "close cooperation between Slovenia, Croatia and other EU Member States is crucial to ensuring the security of our citizens and preserving the Schengen area as an area of free movement". She reiterated her wish to see an end to EU border controls.

The two Presidents highlighted the importance of economic cooperation, as the two countries are each other's most significant trading partners. Trade between Slovenia and Croatia reached €7.51 billion last year, reflecting the dynamic development of economic ties. "Our aim is to create even more favourable conditions for businesses and to promote new opportunities for cooperation, particularly in green energy, tourism and cross-border infrastructure," said President Pirc Musar.