The European think-tank Vote Watch has declared Social Democrat Tonino Picula the most influential Croatian member of the European Parliament based on the Influence Index 2020, Picula's office said in a press release on Tuesday.

Picula said on this occasion that as a MEP he tries to promote the positive European values of cooperation and solidarity on all issues, including stability in the Western Balkans region, the energy transition of the islands and the Union as a whole, and the EU-US relationship.

He said he believed that “Croatia can be strong only in a strong and social EU that understands and helps shape the world around itself in a positive way, promoting peace, stability and well-being.”

“I am sure that my work on specific EU agendas, such as the green transition, digital transformation, especially the successful energy transition of the Croatian islands, has contributed to such a high ranking. I am glad that Vote Watch has recognised my engagement and the engagement of my closest associates,” Picula said.

Picula is a member of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D) and serves as the group’s foreign affairs coordinator. He has been involved in the preparation of important reports, including the annual progress report on Montenegro and recommendations to EU institutions for the Western Balkans. He is the president of the European Parliament Intergroup on Seas, Rivers, Islands and Coastal Areas. In June this year he was appointed rapporteur for relations with the United States.

Vote Watch has recently declared Picula the second most influential MEP on foreign affairs, the press release said.