Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic

The EU must not hesitate in the Western Balkans so that other influence could not prevail in the region, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said in Malta, Croatian News Agency HINA reported on Thursday.

There were several countries in Southeast Europe that needed support and involvement of the EU, he said at a European People's Party (EPP) congress held in Malta, adding if EU were slow and hesitate, other influence would prevail.

That was why Croatia would continue to advocate the enlargement policy, Plenkovic said.

He said that British exit from the EU was a strategic mistake whose negative consequences would be felt primarily in Britain and a lesson to all.

On Wednesday, the prime minister said his country would be the least affected by the Brexit because it was the last to join in 2013.

"Both our analysis and the analysis by the European Commission have confirmed that," he added.

Source: Xinhua