"Can you imagine the situation in which Croatia has completed the negotiations, but there is no entry date?" Sanader asked at a traditional meeting of German Catholics, which takes place every two years.
"Therefore, it is logical that we should ask for a date. Of course, after certain conditions have been met. Logically, this will not be now but when it is appropriate, when it will be obvious that Croatia is meeting a good share of the conditions. Then will come the time when the EU will say the date," said Sanader.
He maintains that Croatia will wrap up the accession negotiations by the end of 2008.
"We are not starting from zero. Neither this nor the previous government lost time. We have already come a long way and are ready to complete the membership negotiations by the end of 2008."
Sanader took part in a debate called "Neighbour in Trouble - No Peace in Europe Without Security in the Balkans". The debate also pooled the head of the European Parliament Delegation for South Eastern Europe, Doris Pack, the special coordinator of the Stability Pact for SE Europe, Erhard Busek, and a state minister at the German Foreign Ministry, Gernot Erler.