European Parliament Approves Petition: “Dominant position abuse | GP Krk Construction Company receives every EU-funded contract in Croatia’s City of Rijeka and beyond”
Petition Adopted by the European Parliament’s Committee on Petitions | Petition Made Available for Supporters to Sign
May 28, 2024 | Washington, DC | The European Parliament’s Committee on Petitions had adopted the petition focusing on the dominant position abuse involving GP Krk Construction company receiving every EU-funded contract in the City of Rijeka.
“As long as Croatia’s infrastructure is funded by EU and US taxpayers and the real estate development is funded by money laundering— there will be no need for a market economy in the respective construction segments in Croatia,” said Natasha Srdoc, co-founder, International Leaders Summit and Adriatic Institute for Public Policy. “Both types of investments — EU funding and money laundering — are preferable for Croatia’s corrupt government structures at the local and national levels, since they are not requiring profit, while securing votes, bribes and party financing.”
Petition Approved by European Parliament | Made Available for Supporters to Sign
For EU citizens, the Petition has been made available for supporters to sign. The European Parliament:
“The petitioner describes instances of alleged large-scale abuse of EU funds in Croatia.”
To sign the petition visit: The European Parliament’s site.
The unintended consequences of the EU “free and cheap money” in Croatia, the Balkans and the rest of Eastern Europe is continued dominant position abuse, further erosion of the rule of law, erosion of protection of property rights and exacerbated kleptocracy.
The inaugural American — European Leaders Summit organized by International Leaders Summit in June 2023, focused on strategic US-Europe issues. One of the top four issues placed greater scrutiny on Croatia and the Balkans:
“Focus on the Balkans and the Eastern Europe region | China and Russia’s growing economic influence in the region, persistent political corruption in the Balkans blocking investments from the United States and other strong rule of law nations within Europe.”
In September 7, 2023, Congressman Lamborn, chairman of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces and senior member of the US House Armed Services Committee signed a letter sent to Croatia’s Prime Andrej Plenkovic demanding answers on blocked U.S. investments, the Balkan country’s legacy of corruption, abuse of US taxpayer funds and Russia’s malign influence. Croatia was recently placed on The Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) ‘Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Grey List.’
Letter from Congressman Doug Lamborn:
“I applaud Congressman Doug Lamborn’s efforts to address corruption and money laundering in the EU and NATO member states,” said Debra LaPrevotte, former Supervisory Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation, International Corruption Unit, FBI-HQ. “At least nine NATO member/EU states have major corruption issues that need to be addressed. Corruption causes political and economic instability and contributes to unhealthy alliances. Fighting corruption in Croatia and the rest of the Balkans is a major step towards ensuring security in the region.”
The Inaugural American-European Leaders Summit | June 27, 2023
European Leadership
The European leadership participating in the strategic summit meeting included Manfred Weber, chairman, Group of the European People’s Party and president of the European People’s Party; David McAllister, chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs and member, Delegation for relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, substitute, Committee on International Trade and Delegation for relations with the United States; Radosław Sikorski , chair, Delegation for relations with the United States, member, Committee on Foreign Affairs and member, Subcommittee on Security and Defense and Rasa Juknevičiene, vice-chair, subcommittee on Security and Defense and former Minister of Defense of Lithuania (2008 to 2012).
American Leadership
The senior US Congressional leadership delegation included Marine Corps veteran Mike Bost, chairman, Veterans’ Affairs Committee and member of Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and Agriculture Committee; Mark Takano, ranking member of HVAC and member, House Education and the Workforce Committee; Scott Franklin, member, House Appropriations Committee, member, HVAC and House Science, Space and Technology Committee; Mariannettee Miller-Meeks, member the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, member, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, where she serves as chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Health; Derrick Van Orden and High Chief Uifa’atali Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen, vice chairman, House Veterans Affairs Committee, member, House Foreign Affairs Committee and co-chairman of the Indo-Pacific Task Force and Derrick Van Orden, member, the House Committee on Agriculture, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
Further Reading:
American-European Leaders Summit | Brussels — Washington, DC | A Strategic High-Level Event
Croatia — The Only EU Member State Put on Money-Laundering and Terrorism Financing ‘Grey List’ by FATF
U.S. Congressman Doug Lamborn Sends Letter to Croatia’s Prime Minister Plenkovic | Official Letter Demands Answers on Blocked U.S. Investments, Abuse of US Taxpayer Funds, Russia’s Malign Influence, and Croatia’s Placement on FATF’s ‘Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Grey List’
Combating Corruption in Eastern Europe: A Principled Role for NATO
Rijeka, Croatia — EU Capital of Corruption
The Wall Street Journal | Corruption in Croatia
Despite the EU’s assurances, Zagreb is no role model for the region
