Dubrovnik is preparing for the crucial summit of Southeast Europe, focusing on support for Ukraine, which will gather regional leaders in October 2024. This event aims to highlight solidarity and support for Ukraine, whose struggle for freedom and territorial integrity faces extremely difficult challenges. Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced this summit during a recent visit to Kyiv, reaffirming strong Croatian support for Ukraine at all levels, including political, economic, and military assistance.

Croatia has been actively participating in initiatives such as the International Crimea Platform, and Plenković emphasized that the summit in Dubrovnik will be an opportunity for even greater international coordination in providing assistance to Ukraine. Croatia aims to ensure that through European and global efforts, comprehensive support is provided to Ukraine, including financial aid of 50 billion euros, which will be allocated over the next four years. This aid will ease the functioning of the Ukrainian economy, which is facing extraordinary pressures due to the war.

Croatia leads regional initiatives to support Ukraine

Prime Minister Plenković highlighted the importance of Croatian engagement in the processes of EU enlargement, especially towards the countries of Southeast Europe, Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia. Given its own experience of integration into the EU, Croatia advocates for support to its neighbors and other countries in implementing crucial reforms that will enable them to come closer to EU membership. Croatia's role in encouraging Bosnia and Herzegovina to make faster progress in the accession process was particularly emphasized.

The summit in Dubrovnik comes at a crucial moment, as the international community faces geopolitical challenges, and the situation in Ukraine continues to require active international support. During his speeches, Plenković reminded of the courage of Ukrainians, comparing their struggle to that of the Croatian people during the Homeland War, thus further emphasizing the importance of international solidarity.

Economic stability and challenges

Croatia does not support Ukraine only politically and militarily but also through numerous economic initiatives. The summit will discuss ways to ensure that the Ukrainian economy remains functional despite the ongoing conflict. Plenković noted that Croatia's strategic objectives are focused on reducing dependence on Russian energy sources, which has already been achieved at the European level. This economic transformation has provided Europe with greater resilience to energy crises, while Ukraine continues to seek solutions for the reconstruction of its infrastructure and energy resources.

Regarding the relationship between Croatia and the EU, the Prime Minister emphasized that the Croatian economy is among the fastest-growing in Europe, with an average annual GDP growth of 7.6 percent over the past three years. This growth enables Croatia to take a more active role in providing assistance to Ukraine, and the high credit rating, which has recently reached a historic high, facilitates additional investments and financial aid not only for Ukraine but for the entire region.

Dubrovnik as a center of international initiatives

Hosting the summit in Dubrovnik is no coincidence – this city has a rich history of international diplomacy and cooperation, making it an ideal venue for such an event. Furthermore, the summit underscores the importance of regional cooperation, as leaders from Southeast Europe will discuss future steps that will enable Ukraine to achieve a more stable economic recovery and better international cooperation on security issues.

In conclusion, Croatia will continue to support Ukraine in its struggle for freedom during the summit, and the Dubrovnik summit will serve as a platform to strengthen regional ties and coordinate international efforts in providing assistance to the war-torn country.