Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Wednesday, ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron's arrival, that he expected "firm support" for Croatia's accession to the Schengen and euro areas from "one of the most influential countries in the world, not just the EU."

Croatia is buying from France 12 used Dassault Rafale F3R fighter jets and the purchase agreement will be signed tomorrow by the two countries’ defence ministers.

“Those agreements open a new dimension and page in strengthening the defence capabilities of the Croatian Army, the Croatian Air Force. Strategic partnership,” Plenkovic said at a cabinet meeting, referring also to the signing of a strategic partnership agreement.

The government endorsed the text of said agreement which Plenkovic and Macron will sign tomorrow.

That, Plenkovic added, is “an opportunity to develop economic, cultural cooperation, political dialogue but above all, for firm support for Croatia’s ambition to become part of the Schengen Area and the euro area.”

“It’s important that we have Slovenia’s strong support concerning our endeavours to enter both the Schengen Area and the euro area, and that we deal with the many bilateral topics which are still on the agenda, and that we advance the relations with Slovenia in a calm, sober, dignified fashion,” he said.

Slovenia is the current Council of the EU president. France will take over the rotating six-month presidency on 1 January.

Macron is arriving in Croatia tonight as the first French president to do so. Plenkovic will receive him for a working dinner, while Croatian President Zoran Milanovic will receive him tomorrow.