France, together with its EU partners, recognized Croatia on 15 January 1992 and established diplomatic relations with Zagreb in April 1992.
Bilateral relationshave developed particularly from the democratic transition following the death of President Tudjman in December 1999. In November 2000, Presidents Jacques Chirac and Stjepan Mesić co-chaired an EU-Balkans Summit in Zagreb, in European vocation of the Western Balkan countries. Have followed numerous meetings at the presidential level (President Mesić in Paris in December 2007, President Josipović in Paris in October 2012 and in July 2013, President Hollande in Brdo kod Kranja in Slovenia in July 2013), heads of government (Prime Minister Fillon in Zagreb and Dubrovnik in July 2010, Prime Minister Milanović in Paris in October 2013) or Foreign and European Affairs Ministers (Minister Leonetti in Zagreb and Vukovar in October 2011, two visits by Minister Pusić in 2012, two visits of Minister Repentin in 2013 including a spouse with his German counterpart Mr. Link). Astrategic partnership was signed during the visit of Mr. Fillon in 2010, which provides a framework for our mutual relationship in all areas: economic, cultural, academic, political, strategic ... President Josipović was guest of honor of President Hollande on the occasion of the festivities of July 14, 2013, where Croatian troops marched for the first time on the Champs-Elysees. Since the accession to the EU, the two governments have strengthened their dialogue on major European and international issues, in particular the consolidation of the Western Balkans region, cooperation between riparian countries of the Mediterranean, growth and employment , energy, the reaction to climate change ...
The Croatia Festival, which was held in France between September 2012 and February 2013, offered a new opportunity to strengthen our ties. For six months, the Croatian culture was presented in all its facets to the French, who were able to get to know the cultural heritage and contemporary creativity of the country a few months before joining the European Union on July 1, 2013 The success of the exhibitions, shows and meetings was reinforced by the many political visits that marked the festival (meetings of the Ministers of Culture, Foreign Affairs, and finally Presidents Josipović and Holland at the inauguration of the exhibition of medieval Croatian sacred art at the Cluny Museum).
It was then the turn of Croatia to host a Festival of France, entitled "Rendez-vous". This event was the first cultural season of a partner country of the European Union organized in Croatia. From April to October 2015, a multidisciplinary program of 150 events was organized in 22 cities, presenting the artistic creation in all its states, from heritage to the most contemporary works, sporting and gastronomic meetings, debates of ideas, economic events ... This festival has highlighted the Franco-Croatian friendship with in particular a big popular ball on July 14, 2015 in the main square of Zagreb, in the presence of Secretary of State Harlem Désir and his counterpart Croatian Joško Klisović. Subsequently, the French authorities hosted in Paris, in May 2016, Prime Minister Tihomir Orešković and Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miro Kovač.
The Secretary of State for European Affairs held political dialogue meetings with his Croatian counterpart, Marija Pejčinović-Burić, in Paris on 15 January 2017 and in Zagreb on 21 March 2017, participating on the same day in the inauguration of the new Zagreb International Airport , built and managed by a consortium led by French companies.
France has been a strong supporter of Croatia throughout its process of accession to the European Union, which came to fruition in January 2013 with the unanimous ratification of both Houses of Parliament of the Accession Treaty of Croatia. Croatia to the European Union, in the presence of the President of the Croatian Parliament, Mr Josip Leko.
The two Parliaments also know each other well thanks to the exchanges organized by the France-Croatia friendship groups of the National Assembly (Patrick Bloche) and the Senate (Michèle André) and to the visits that the parliamentary committees have made several times. Foreign Affairs and European Affairs to assess Croatia's progress towards European integration.
