From the 1st of January to the 30th of June 2020, Croatia is taking over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for its first time. NECSTouR strongly salutes the inclusion of tourism in the Croatian program as a challenge for both sustainability and competitiveness.

A strong Europe in a world of challenges. Mr. Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister of Croatia, announced the four priorities of the presidency:

• A Europe that develops
• A Europe that connects
• A Europe that protects
• An influential Europe

Sustainable development. NECSTouR congratulates the aknoledgement of "promoting the sustainable forms of tourism and sustainability of coastal and island communities” as one of the three solutions offered by the Croatian presidency for achieving “environmental protection and fighting climate change”. The link between sustainability and climate change is indeed in line with the European Green Deal - one of the priorities of the New Commission.

The Role of Tourism under the Croatian Presidency

Tourism and Competitivess. In line with the NECSTouR vision, the Croatian Presidency places the support of responsible and sustainable tourism development policies, as a key contribution to the achievement of a competitive single market.

Tourism and Development. As a coastal and insular country, Croatia is indeed a strong advocate for the competitivity of the tourism sector without forgetting the environmental and social cost: “The Presidency will support responsible and sustainable tourism development policies, placing special emphasis on encouraging diversity of the tourism offer, in order to boost the development of areas that are underdeveloped in terms of tourism.”

Tourism and Local Communities. In line with the NECSTouR vision ("Better Places to Live, Better Places to Visit"), the Croatian presidency aims to achieve “synergy between the local community and tourists, reducing the seasonality of tourist demand, and encouraging the application of information and communication technologies as well as digitalisation within the tourist system.” Highlighting yet another one of the priorities of the New Commission (An Europe For for the Digital Age).

Branding. And finally, “Croatia will propose the establishment of a European tourism brand for joint promotion of Member States in distant markets”.

Synergies with the work of NECSTouR

Political Recognition. NECSTouR shares the Croatian view that "Tourism should be better recognised in the EU’s policies and institutions" and is ready to support a coordinated approach with the new European Commission.

MFF. Members of NECSTouR are already at work to advocate for a bigger inclusion of tourism in the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2021-2027, in line with what Mr. Andrej Plenković stated: “an ambitious, balanced and sustainable MFF" is a prerequisite in this last year of preparation.

Development Projects. Being one of the top touristic countries of the Mediterranean, Croatia is also engaged - as NECSTouR - in the development of projects like the Sustainable Tourism horizontal project of the Interreg MED program.

NECSTouR wishes all the best to the Croatian Government for this semester and is ready to strength its cooperation with its members by the Istria Region and the Institute of Agriculture and Tourism in Poreč, the other Croatian Regions and the National Government, in order to further develop the European Tourism Policy!

The Croatian presidency website
The final programme of the Croatian Presidency