Croatia's international position has never been stronger, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Wednesday in Zagreb at the ceremonial opening of the Conference of Ambassadors, Consuls General, Consuls and Military Envoys.

Plenković said that in the year since the last conference, the world has changed and become more demanding, so the role of diplomatic representatives whose engagement will become more related to economic, energy and financial topics will also become more demanding.

"Today we can say really clearly that our international position has never been stronger", said the Prime Minister in front of representatives of diplomacy and a number of government ministers in the National University Library.

The position will additionally be strengthened from the beginning of next year by membership in the euro area and Schengen, Plenković said.

"Nine and a half years after membership, we will be with both feet firmly in the core and engine of the inner circle of European integration. It is a huge political achievement".

Croatia thus joins only 15 countries that are members of the European Union, NATO, the euro area and the Schengen area, the Prime Minister emphasized.

"This speaks of Croatia's belonging to the innermost circle, and when we are part of the innermost circle, then we know that we are significantly more protected and safer, not only in the defence and political sense, but above all in the economic and financial sense," Plenković said.

"I hope, as you have done so far, to promote Croatian interests with your sincere enthusiasm and patriotism, strengthen our identity at the international level and thus contribute to the betterment of all of us," he concluded his address to the diplomats.