The centre-left government in Spain on Thursday wished Croatia good luck during its six-month presidency of the European Union, noting that in that period work will be done to strengthen the EU.

Spain and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs “wish good luck to #Croatia, which for the first time ever holds the presidency of the @EUCouncil in 2020. The work of the @EU2020HR will be guided by the slogan ‘A strong Europe in a world of challenges’,” the ministry tweeted.

On Wednesday, Croatia assumed the presidency of the bloc of 28 countries for the first time since accessing the European Union in 2013.

Spain’s Secretary of State for the European Union, Marco Aguirirano, met in Madridon 17 December with Croatian state secretary Andreja Metelko-Zgombic and the two officials discussed topics related to the EU. The meeting was when Metelko-Zgombic attended a Asia-Europe summit.

The two state secretaries announced the establishment of firmer relations in politics and culture between their two countries.