"It is of fundamental importance that Croatia should join the European Union because Croatia is a European country. The Balkan countries are European countries," Casini told reporters in Zagreb after meeting the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, Vladimir Seks.
Casini had served as the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Italian Parliament before he was elected President of the IPU in 2005.
Speaking of Turkey, Casini said that there were arguments both in favour and against admitting that country into the EU.
"Turkey is a big country, but it is not a European country, which Croatia and the Balkan countries are," he said.
In this context the Italian official said that Croatia's admission to the EU might serve as "a factor that will give new vitality to the other Balkan countries in achieving their common goal, and that is EU membership."
Seks said that Casini supported Croatia's aspirations to join the EU and that he suggested that Croatia should be the leader of the other Balkan countries on the path to the EU.
Casini also met the chairman of the Executive Committee of the Croatian Parliament National Group in the Inter-Parliamentary Union and head of the Croatian-Italian Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group, Valter Drandic, and members of the Executive Committee and the Friendship Group.