MEPs exchange of views with Pjer SIMUNOVIC, Croatian State Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Brussels

exchange of views

EU - Croatia (T)

EU - Croatia: exchange of views with Pjer SIMUNOVIC, Croatian State Secretary in the Ministry of Defence

SOUNDBITE (French), Pjer &#352;IMUNOVI&#262;, Croatian State Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, At this point in time we are in final stretch of our accession process. We have 33 open chapters, 22 of which have been temporarily concluded, so we are becoming an EU member state as quickly as possible; Also from our site, we are making every effort that is necessary, but of course we have to thank all of our friends that supported us.

SOUNDBITE (English), Pjer &#352;IMUNOVI&#262;, Croatian State Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, And also we have been also developing instruments of our contribution to the EU and NATO synergy through our participation in our EU - NATO capability group. And this brings me to an important matter for us which has also find its reflections in our thinking about new NATO strategy concept. For us it has been extremly important to insert a very strong wording and very strong emphasis on the necessity to forge an ever stronger synergy between the EU and NATO and we see an absolute necessity for this two organizations to be able to work closely, jointly and to avoid any unnecessary and harmful duplications and the waste of resources.

SOUNDBITE (English), Pjer &#352;IMUNOVI&#262;, Croatian State Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, In terms of some aspects of the political and security and defense cooperation in the region. I guess you may be interested into the hearing our assessment how the region is doing and what are our political priorities in the region as much from the perspective of the Croatian Ministry of Defense. Then surely the regional, bilateral cooperation and multilateral cooperation within the region forms an extremely important crucial aspect of our policy and it translates into a whole set of the defense agreements we have been able to conclude with our neighbors. Let me just mention the latest which is an agreement of the defense cooperation with the Republic of Serbia.

SOUNDBITE (English), Pjer &#352;IMUNOVI&#262;, Croatian State Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Attractiveness of the military profession in Croatia; Fortunately we are presently able to fully attract lot of interest by young people in terms of joining arm forces. I would say it stands from fact there is a perception that the arm forces have changed, that they have been transformed to the modern, they are integrated into the NATO to more into the EU. This may be an interesting profession with good carrier, interesting carrier. It may involve, as it does, additional education, specialization, positions abroad, positions within NATO, positions within UN, serving in operations and I would guess it is also financial aspect of it.