Luxembourg Parliament President Lucien Weiler described Rehn's statement as a shift in the previous assessments of Croatia's cooperation with the Hague war crimes tribunal, saying that the EU commissioner should be asked to clarify his statement.
We're also surprised by Rehn's position, Weiler said.
Croatian Parliament President Vladimir Seks said that Rehn's statement on the case of fugitive Croatian Army General Ante Gotovina and the lack of readiness on the Croatian side to arrest him and hand him over to The Hague was based on "rather dubious information".
Asked by a reporter if it was really impossible for the Croatian authorities to track down and extradite the general, Seks said he was confident that the Croatian government "will do its utmost".
Seks said that it would be good if other countries that may have any information in connection with Gotovina's whereabouts shared the information with Croatia.
The talks between the two delegations focused on human rights and judicial reform in Croatia.
Croatia has made huge efforts, but has not always achieved very convincing results. However, a young state should not be asked to do more than we ourselves have managed to achieve, Weiler said.
Weiler praised Croatia's willingness to join the European Union. The country is very determined, its preparations are brilliant, and the road it has travelled is very significant, he said.
Weiler, however, noted that membership negotiations did not automatically mean accession. There is no chance for you to join the EU unless you fulfil all the criteria and conditions, he stressed, adding that the date of accession would depend on all the results achieved.
He welcomed the statement by Seks that Croatia was not obsessed about the year in which it would be admitted to the bloc.
Asked if he was disappointed by indications that Croatia might become a member in 2009 rather than in 2007, Seks said: "It is important for us in Croatia to fulfil all the necessary criteria, to carry out all the necessary reforms, to be mature."
The Croatian delegation -- including Parliament Vice-Presidents Mato Arlovic, Vesna Pusic and Djurdja Adlesic, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Gordan Jandrokovic, and the Chairman of the European Integration Committee, Neven Mimica -- ended their visit with a reception with the Mayor of Luxembourg.