The development of family-run businesses and of small and medium-sized enterprises is a trend in the European Union and we will advocate the further improvement of that sector in Croatia which must base its progress on food production, tourism and on manufacturing industry, Friscic said in his speech.
We will insist on preserving the energy sector as keeping gas supply in our own hands will enable Croatia to be one of the few countries that are energy independent, he said at the convention that brought together several hundreds delegates.
The HSS will remain a stable coalition partner in the government with which it has achieved many significant results in the past three years, Friscic said pointing out to the closing of 20 negotiating areas in the accession negotiations with the European Union.
All three planks of the the government's programme -- the economic recovery, the conclusion of the membership talks with the EU and the anti-corruption campaign -- enjoy the support from the HSS, he said adding that special attention will be paid to efforts to attract investments and to cooperate with units of local self-government.
In attendance at the HSS convention were Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor, who is the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) leader, the HDZ Secretary-General Branko Bacic and Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic.
In response to comments from the current Opposition why the HSS remained in this ruling coalition, Friscic said that this government had the courage to pass the legislation on no limitation period for prosecuting criminal offences in privatisation and to close 20 policy chapters in the negotiations with the EU.
Positive economic indicators from the third quarter of this year also prove the successfulness of this government and all of that are preconditions for the continuation of a successful coalition cooperation, the HSS chief said.