Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic met on Tuesday with Austrian's Foreign Minister, Karin Kneissl, for talks on bolstering the economic and political cooperation between the two countries.

Austria is currently chairing the European Union and has put Southeast Europe and the continuation of EU enlargement among its priorities, which will also be a priority during Croatia’s EU presidency in the first half of 2020.

Grabar-Kitarovic and Kneissl agreed that a long-term solution needs to be found to the migrant crisis, primarily by strengthening the protection of EU’s external borders and reaching an agreement on a common asylum system, as well as by bolstering cooperation with countries of migrants’ origin and transit, given that 60 million people are on the move, looking for physical and economic security.

They agreed Croatia should join the passport-free travel Schengen area, and the euro zone, as soon as possible, in which Kneissl said Croatia had Austria’s support.

Speaking about the security and political situation in Southeast Europe, Grabar-Kitarovic and Kneissl agreed that it was necessary to keep enlargement on the agenda of the EU, as well as NATO, saying it was very important for the stability and functioning of the countries in the region.

Discussing global issues, they agreed it was necessary to continue to enhance the development of multi-lateralism and dialogue with countries in the Middle East and Europe’s southern neighbours in order to bolster security and continue to develop the EU’s global role.

Follow N1 via mobile apps for Android | iPhone/iPad | Windows| and social media on Twitter | Facebook.