During the Croatia's six-month rotating chairmanship of the EU in the first half of 2020, more than 160 various events will take place in the Croatian capital Zagreb, expected to generate some 35,000 overnight stays, the coordinator of Croatia's EU presidency, Gordan Markotic, said on Friday.

“During those six months, we expect around 25,000 delegates. In Zagreb alone, around 35,000 overnight stays are expected. All hotels will be engaged,” Markotic said on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the Croatian Society of Conference Interpreters.

Markotic said that everyone arriving to the city would be provided with accommodation and that all hotels would be full.

During its EU presidency, Croatia will organise around 10,000 official lunches and 4,000 official dinners, he said.

Of the 161 events to be held, most are informal meetings at which decisions are not made but which serve as preparation for formal meetings in Brussels, Markotic said.

Two summit meetings of European leaders, 12 informal meetings of the Council of Ministers, eight ministerial conferences and four meetings of parliament speakers are the most important events to be held in Croatia, said Markotic.

Zagreb will host two-thirds of events, while the rest will take place elsewhere in Croatia, he added.

The National and University Library (NSK) will be the main venue of Croatia’s EU presidency, and there will be another ‘central venue’ in Zagreb, Markotic said, adding that several hotels will provide conference rooms.

Formal dinners will be held at locations such as the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Mimara Museum, the Preporodna Dvorana in Opaticka Street, and the Croatian Music Institute.

A Europe that grows, a Europe that protects, a Europe that connects and a Europe that is open and assertive – these are the four areas in which Croatia will adopt the priorities of its presidency, the coordinator said.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic’s chief-of-staff Zvonimir Frka Petesic said that preparations were proceedings according to plan, adding that the website of Croatia’s presidency would be available in Croatian, English, French and German.

Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic Radman on Thursday estimated EU presidency costs at around €70 million.

The presidential troika started with Romania’s presidency beginning on 1 January, and it also includes Finland, whose presidency started on July 1, and Croatia, which will take over on 1 January 2020.

The presidential troika was introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon to ensure the continuity of work at the Council of the EU.

The troika determines long-term goals and prepares a joint programme with topics and main issues to be dealt with by the Council over the 18-month period. Based on that programme, all three countries prepare their detailed six-month programmes.