The protection of rights of ethnic minorities and vulnerable groups, decentralisation, and the fight against corruption will be among Croatia’s priorities during its chairmanship of the Council of Europe, the Prime Minister, Andrej Plenkovic, said on Tuesday in a meeting with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE), Thorbjorn Jagland.

Jagland has met with the Prime Minister as part of his official visit to Croatia. The country’s chairmanship of the CoE was the main topic of their talk. Croatia will take over the position from Denmark on May 18, and hold it until November 21.

A total of 26 events are scheduled to be held during Croatia’s CoE chairmanship. They will be an opportunity to promote the mentioned topics, and strengthen common values, mainly in the area of human rights.

Plenkovic said Croatia appreciated the membership of the Council of Europe, adding that joining this pan-European organisation in 1996 was one of the first major successes of Croatia’s foreign policy.

The meeting also addressed the existing challenges in Europe and the situation within the Council of Europe, as well as the development of convention law, a press release from the Croatian government said.