"In choosing the heads of the negotiating groups, we were guided by the principle of competence, knowledge of English, and negotiating skills," PM Sanader told reporters.
Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) leader Zlatko Tomcic did not want to take part in the appointments, stating that it was the government's task, but he did take part in the work of the group of leaders of parliamentary parties and the national committee for the monitoring of negotiations with the EU, Sanader added.
The groups will start operating immediately, independent of the start of negotiations with the EU, Sanader said, adding that he expected the talks to start on March 17 as scheduled.
The group for negotiations on finances, budget, taxes and customs duties will be headed by Martina Dalic, the group on statistics and regional policy by Zlata Froelich, the group on energy and environment by Nikola Ruzinski, and the group on agriculture, fisheries, consumer protection and veterinary protection by Ruzica Gelo.
Snjezana Bagic will head the group for talks on the judiciary and human rights, Damir Kusen will lead the group for external relations and foreign, security and defence policy, Pero Lucin will head the group for science, education and culture, and Miroslav Kovacic the group for transport policy, information society and the media.
The head of the group for talks on the freedom of movement of capital, financial services and the economic and monetary union is Boris Vujcic; Olgica Spevec will head the group for market competition, entrepreneurship and industrial policy, while Sinisa Petrovic will head the group for company law, intellectual ownership and the freedom of provision of services.
The group that will negotiate about the freedom of labour movement, social policy and employment is headed by Vera Babic, while Tamara Obradovic heads the group for public procurement and the freedom of movement of commodities.
Obradovic was previously appointed secretary of the negotiating team.
The head of the national delegation for negotiations with the EU is the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, the chief negotiator and deputy head of the delegation is Vladimir Drobnjak, and his deputies are Martina Dalic and Boris Vujcic.