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Andrej Plenković

Prime Minister, Croatia

Search every verified Andrej Plenković interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. On September 1, 2026, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković welcomed European Council President António Costa to Zagreb as part of the Tour des Capitales. During their meeting, Plenković said the primary topic of discussion was the Multiannual Financial Framework, the EU’s long-term budget for 2028–2034. He noted that the European Commission’s initial proposal stood at approximately €1.763 trillion, with a revised proposal of €1.070 trillion under the Cypriot presidency, and that negotiations would continue through October, November, and December. Plenković described Croatia, as the EU’s youngest member, as still in a phase of catching up to the development level of earlier member states. He said the next budget should serve as leverage for further development, regional growth, and economic competitiveness, and he referenced reports by former Italian Prime Minister Draghi and Letta as guiding frameworks. He also discussed EU enlargement, expressing continued support for Ukraine amid Russia’s aggression and emphasizing that candidate countries must meet criteria such as European values and resolving neighborly relations. Plenković additionally called on the EU to support electoral and constitutional reforms in Bosnia-Herzegovina to ensure representation for Croats in elected bodies.

Recent appearances

Verified interview transcripts

Notable quotes

“We have advanced the development of new financial instruments including the 3C's initiative infrastructure fund of funds in cooperation with European investment bank group as a means to mobilize investment at scale.”

“The infrastructure investment needs in transport, energy, and digital connectivity are estimated at 650 billion euros. That gap between potential and reality is precisely why we are here.”

“The only safe way for the European Union to remain an actor is to be as united as possible and to maintain sensible, reasonable transatlantic ties with the United States — it remains an ally and a friend.”

“We found €90 billion to finance Ukraine to ensure the functioning of the state and the blood flow of its financial system, and to help Ukraine defend itself.”

“If part of any peace deal for Ukraine includes a faster pace toward EU membership, that could completely alter our approach — turning enlargement into an explicitly geopolitical decision and opening space for Western Balkan countries; we should revisit absorption capacity and the multiannual financial framework accordingly.”

“Whatever the outcome was — option A, option B, using the Russian central bank frozen assets or the loan — the good outcome is that we found 90 billion euros to finance Ukraine to keep the state functioning, the blood flow of the financial system, and also help Ukraine to defend itself.”

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