Gordan Grlić-Radman | |
|---|---|
_(2).jpg) Grlić-Radman in 2024 | |
| Minister of Foreign and European Affairs | |
| Assumed office 22 July 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | Andrej Plenković |
| Preceded by | Marija Pejčinović Burić |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1958-06-06)6 June 1958 (age 66) Prisoje,PR Bosnia and Herzegovina,FPR Yugoslavia |
| Political party | Croatian Democratic Union |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Zagreb |
Gordan Grlić-Radman (born 6 June 1958) is a Croatian diplomat and politician serving asMinister of Foreign and European Affairs since July 2019.[1]
Grlić-Radman was born inPrisoje nearTomislavgrad,PR Bosnia and Herzegovina,FPR Yugoslavia in 1958. He studied at the XIV Gymnasium in Zagreb until 1977 and got a bachelor's degree at the Faculty of Agriculture of theUniversity of Zagreb in 1982.[2]
In 1991, Grlić-Radman also completed a two-year degree at the Institut für Kaderschule management school inBern,Switzerland.[2] In 2002, he graduated in international relations from the Faculty of Political Science of theUniversity of Zagreb,[3] where he obtained a PhD in 2007[4] with a dissertation on "Neutrality and New European Security Architecture".[5]
Grlić-Radman started his career in business, working inSwitzerland for Melior-Haefliger AG from 1984 to 1991. In those years he was active in the Croatian diaspora as president of the Croatian Cultural Community in Switzerland (1984–1988)[2] and co-sponsor of the Croatian-Swiss Business Consult with Davor Pavuna.[6]
From 1991 to 1992, Grlić-Radman worked as Business Secretary of theFaculty of Medicine in Zagreb (headed byMate Granić,[7] whom he befriended[8]) and volunteered for the Office for Refugees and Displaced Persons of theGovernment of Croatia (working with diaspora) and for the Croatian Health Service (Humanitarian Aid).[2]
.jpg)
In 1992 and later, Grlić-Radman helped set up the diplomatic and consular missions ofnewly independent Croatia inBern,Geneva andZürich.[9]Grlić-Radman then served in the Croatian embassies toBulgaria (1994–1996) andHungary, headed byZdenko Škrabalo[7] (1996–1997). From 1997 to 2012, he worked withMate Granić[7] at the Croatian Foreign Ministry, among other things as Head of the Central European Department (2004–2009) and Secretary of theDanube Commission (2011–2014). From 2010 to 2012 he headed the Center for International Studies.[2]
In 2012, Grlić-Radman was appointed byDavor Ivo Stier[7] as the Ambassador toHungary.[2] In October 2017, he was appointed as Ambassador toGermany.[4][10]
On 19 July 2019, Grlić-Radman was appointed to replaceMarija Pejčinović Burić asMinister of Foreign and European Affairs in theCabinet of Andrej Plenković.[11]
On 2 November 2023, Grlić-Radman greeted German foreign ministerAnnalena Baerbock with a kiss at anEU ministers' meeting inBerlin. He was subsequently criticised in Croatian media, with women's rights activist Rada Boric calling his behavior "highly inappropriate". Grlić-Radman said his actions were a "warm, human approach to a colleague" but acknowledged that it was probably "an awkward moment" and apologised "to whoever took it that way."[12]
On 24 February 2024, Grlić-Radman described Serbian PresidentAleksandar Vučić as a Russian “satellite” in the Balkans during an interview onN1, adding that Vucic must decide whether to side with Russia or the European Union “because it is impossible and uncomfortable sitting on two chairs at the same time.” Vučić denied the allegation, saying that Grlić-Radman "brutally interferes in the internal affairs of Serbia, but as usual he lies and insults the Serbian people and threatens its citizens.” TheSerbian foreign ministry issued a note of protest saying that it expected Croatian officials to “refrain from statements that represent interference in the internal affairs of Serbia and will lead a policy of reconciliation and good-neighborly relations between the two states.”[13]
Grlić-Radman is married and father of three children.[2] He is a practisingRoman Catholic.[7] He speaksGerman,English,Bulgarian, andHungarian but not fluently.[14][15]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister of Foreign and European Affairs 2019–present | Incumbent |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
