Official visit to Croatia – 4 -6 June 2012

Keith Whitmore makes an official visit to Dubrovnik (Croatia): “Cities and regions make European values tangible, notably with successful action to combat violence against children”

Strasbourg, 7 June 2012 - Concluding an official visit to Croatia from 4 to 6 June 2012, Congress President Keith Whitmore held a series of meetings in Dubrovnik on 6 May, in particular with the Mayor of the City, Mr. Andro Vlahušić and Dubrovnik-Neretva County Prefect, Mr. Nikola Dobroslavić, as well as representatives of the Centre for Families and educational institutions.

The main topic of discussion was the successful activities to prevent sexual violence against children implemented by Dubrovnik County and Dubrovnik city, notably in the framework of the Council of Europe campaign '1 in 5'. “Roma inclusion and children's rights are two concrete examples where the Croatian cities and counties visited in the past two days can serve as models for concrete implementation of European values and Council of Europe policies”, stated Keith Whitmore.

Among the other items on the agenda of the day were cross-border cooperation, city diplomacy, and the situation of local authorities in Croatia. . Keith Whitmore reiterated the Congress’ readiness to accompany the Croatian decentralisation reform process with a constructive monitoring of the implementation of the European Charter of Self-Government in the country, and indicated that proximity and subsidiarity shall be the guidelines of the country’s territorial reform. 

The Congress delegation, composed of President Keith Whitmore and Andreas Kiefer, Congress Secretary General, was accompanied by Ms Dubravka Šuica, Vice President of the Congress and President of the Croatian Delegation to the Congress as well as Ms Anica Djamić, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Croatia to the Council of Europe