President Milanović Meets with Croatian Chamber of Agriculture Representatives Advocating Closer Integration of Food and Defense Policies
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović met today with representatives of the Croatian Chamber of Agriculture (HPK) to discuss the state of Croatian agriculture, with particular emphasis on the need to more closely integrate food and defense policies.
Led by Chamber President Mladen Jakopović, the HPK delegation presented data on the current state of agriculture and highlighted ongoing challenges faced by Croatian farmers. They pointed out several key issues, including insufficient domestic agricultural production to meet national needs, unresolved issues regarding agricultural land rights and access, and the import of agricultural products of questionable quality. “Every EU member state protects its own interests – Croatia should do the same, especially in the agricultural sector,” the representatives emphasized.
Regarding the need to integrate food and defense policies, HPK representatives expressed the view that, alongside strengthening its defense policy, Croatia should also adopt measures to ensure food self-sufficiency and security in times of crisis or war. To this end, they proposed increasing domestic agricultural production and investing in infrastructure for processing and storing food products. They stressed the importance of building reserves and storage facilities for essential food items such as grains, oils, and dairy products, in order to guarantee a minimum level of food availability. Additionally, they advocated for expanding national capacities for the production, processing, and storage of food to meet domestic demand.
Alongside President Mladen Jakopović, the HPK delegation included Deputy President Mato Mihić, Presidency Member Antun Vrakić, and Chamber associates Tomislava Galić and Staka Perić.
President Milanović was accompanied by Velibor Mačkić, Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for the Economy, and Ivica Olujić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Defense.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Ana Marija Katić