As one of the main instruments of Flanders’ bilateral foreign policy, Mixed Commissions are held several times a year between Flanders and its bilateral partners. During such a commission, delegates of both countries and/or regions agree upon a cooperation programme, which implements the cooperation treaty between both partners. On 17 and 18 April, Flanders held a Mixed Commission with upcoming EU member state Croatia in the town of Delnice. Delegation members negotiated the second cooperation programme for 2014-2015, in implementation of the cooperation treaty between the Government of Flanders and the Croatian Government, signed on 13 November 2006.
The co-chair from the Flanders party was the Secretary-General of the Flemish Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr Koen Verlaeckt, while the Croatian party was co-chaired by Director-General at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs Mr Hrvoje Marušić.
Following the welcome speeches and the opening of the session, the two co-chairs introduced the members of their delegations. The achievements of the Programme adopted at the 1st Session held in Brussels in 2008 were summarized, the continuation and development of cooperation was confirmed and the new plans were negotiated and presented. The new cooperation programme involves nearly all domains for which the Government of Flanders is competent and will form the basis for establishing even closer ties in the years to come.