The UK enjoys a strong relationship with Croatia as a regionally important, likeminded NATO Ally. We regularly work together on areas of shared strategy interest, including on support to Ukraine and commitment to NATO standardisation. The depth of this relationship is exemplified by the annual success of Ex SAVA STAR, the capstone UK-Croatia land training exercise.

The UK enjoys a strong relationship with Croatia as a regionally important, likeminded NATO Ally. We regularly work together on areas of shared strategy interest, including on support to Ukraine and commitment to NATO standardisation. The depth of this relationship is exemplified by the annual success of Ex SAVA STAR, the capstone UK-Croatia land training exercise.

Greece is a major defence and security partner for the UK. With a relationship steeped in history, Greece remains a close partner for the UK both bilaterally and within NATO. We regularly we cooperate on matters of shared interest, with bilateral cooperation involving a range of a range of multi-domain activities through training, capability development, and crisis planning.

Croatia is a valued partner of the United Kingdom, both bilaterally and as a NATO Ally. In 2022 we signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement, covering defence cooperation, and in 2023 a Joint Declaration on Bilateral Cooperation, which committed us to working together on shared priorities, from support to Ukraine, scientific collaboration, clean energy, to tackling irregular migration through the Western Balkans route. We also hold annual joint military exercises, and over 800,000 British tourists visit every year, strengthening our people-to-people links. Our Foreign Secretaries last met in London in March, and our Prime Ministers met in May at the European Political Community summit in Tirana. I last held a strategic dialogue with my counterpart in November 2024. This meeting deepened our shared understanding and cooperation on our priority issues.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) publicly lists jurisdictions with weak anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing regimes. The Money Laundering Regulations 2017 (MLRs) require regulated businesses, including banks, to undertake ‘enhanced due diligence’ in respect of business relationships and transactions involving countries on the FATF’s lists, defined as ‘High Risk Third Countries’.

Croatia was listed by the FATF in June 2023, so is a High Risk Third Country for the purposes of the MLRs. While enhanced due diligence measures are required, there is no expectation that services linked to a particular country should be withdrawn due to a country’s listing by the FATF.

As close neighbours and allies, the UK and Croatia enjoy strong people to people links. On 28 April, the Foreign Secretary signed a Joint Declaration with Croatian Foreign Minister Radman that aspires to deepen these ties and we are continuing to explore opportunities to strengthen cultural and educational exchanges with our Croatian counterparts. We collaborate closely on education, including through research and joint qualifications in partnership with UK and Croatian universities. The British Council also continues to support cultural and educational exchanges between the UK and Croatia. I [Minister Docherty] will be visiting Croatia in September and will review progress made on the joint declaration in discussion with my counterpart.

This Government is committed to supporting the UK’s creative industries, including musicians, to adapt to new arrangements with the EU.

EU Member States are principally responsible for deciding the rules governing what work UK visitors can undertake in each Member State. We have engaged bilaterally with all EU Member States, and nearly all (24 out of 27) have confirmed they offer visa and work permit free routes for UK performers for short-term touring.

This includes the UK’s biggest touring markets such as France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Following engagement by the UK Government and the sector, this also includes Spain, which introduced 90-day visa- and work permit- free touring in November 2021; and Greece, which announced a visa and work permit free route for UK creatives in June 2022, currently due to be in place until 31 December 2022. The UK Government is continuing to engage with Greece on extending this arrangement beyond the end of this year, however this is ultimately a decision for the Greek Government to take.

The Government is engaged with the remaining Member States - Cyprus, Malta and Portugal - on allowing creative professionals to tour more easily. However, ultimately it is up to these countries to align their requirements more closely with the UK’s generous rules.

The UK’s domestic rules allow musicians, entertainers and artists (and their technical staff) from EU Member States, to perform in the UK without requiring a visa, and the UK does not have work-permits.

This Government is committed to supporting the UK’s creative industries, including musicians, to adapt to new arrangements with the EU.

EU Member States are principally responsible for deciding the rules governing what work UK visitors can undertake in each Member State. We have engaged bilaterally with all EU Member States, and nearly all (24 out of 27) have confirmed they offer visa and work permit free routes for UK performers for short-term touring.

This includes the UK’s biggest touring markets such as France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Following engagement by the UK Government and the sector, this also includes Spain, which introduced 90-day visa- and work permit- free touring in November 2021; and Greece, which announced a visa and work permit free route for UK creatives in June 2022, currently due to be in place until 31 December 2022. The UK Government is continuing to engage with Greece on extending this arrangement beyond the end of this year, however this is ultimately a decision for the Greek Government to take.

The Government is engaged with the remaining Member States - Cyprus, Malta and Portugal - on allowing creative professionals to tour more easily. However, ultimately it is up to these countries to align their requirements more closely with the UK’s generous rules.

The UK’s domestic rules allow musicians, entertainers and artists (and their technical staff) from EU Member States, to perform in the UK without requiring a visa, and the UK does not have work-permits.

Decisions on border measures are taken by Ministers, who take into account Joint Biosecurity Centre risk assessments of countries and territories, alongside wider public health factors.

In July 2021, Germany was on the amber list. Croatia was removed from the amber list and added to the green list from 19 July 2021. The countries and territories on the green list in July 2021 were those that presented the lowest risk to the UK.

From Monday 4 October, the traffic light system was replaced with a single red list of countries and simplified travel measures for arrivals from the rest of the world, depending on vaccination status.

The accounts in the Amnesty International report are concerning. We welcome the fact that Frontex has conducted an internal investigation into the allegations, and the European Parliament has established a permanent standing committee in order to scrutinise Frontex activity in the Aegean. The UK co-operates closely with our European partners to manage migration and strengthen our collective borders. We are committed to upholding international law and international human rights standards and to avoiding any actions that may endanger human life.

It is for Croatia to determine whether Mr Taylor should be extradited to Monaco, and for Monaco to investigate allegations of attempted extortion. In accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, we are compelled both to exercise our consular functions in foreign States in accordance with local laws and regulations and to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of foreign States.

On 12 and 13 April, our Ambassador in Croatia spoke to the Croatian authorities to understand the latest timelines for court action and to reiterate the importance of fair treatment.

I have raised Mr Taylor's case with the Croatian Secretary of State for European Affairs, multiple times, most recently during my visit to Zagreb on 8 June.

Consular officials are in regular contact with the Croatian courts to ensure that we understand the process being followed.