The only dissenting opinion came from the Party of Rights (HSP), which considers the postponement of the entry talks as a failure of the government of Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and which called for an early election.
Some parties expressed concern about a possible rise in Euroscepticism and right-wing extremism.
Milorad Pupovac of the Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS) said that the government should respond to growing right-wing forces by "strengthening democratic and pro-European Croatian patriotism".
Pupovac said he did not consider the EU decision dramatic. "What we failed to get in the morning for breakfast, we will certainly get by the end of the day for supper."
The leader of the strongest opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP), Ivica Racan, said that the decision on the postponement of the talks was the first bad news from the EU, but that it was not catastrophic.
People's Party (HNS) leader Vesna Pusic said that the EU decision was Croatia's failure. "What we got yesterday is a failure. We must admit to ourselves that we are in a situation that is not good."
Pusic said that the present government was responsible for the decision just as was the previous government during whose term general Ante Gotovina escaped.
Prime Minister Ivo Sanader disagreed with the assessment that the postponement of the talks was a failure. "I do not see it as a complete but as a partial success," he said.
Sanader rejected the statement by Pusic that Croatia would have to wait for the next assessment of its cooperation with the Hague tribunal until June when chief prosecutor Carla del Ponte is due to submit a report.
The prime minister said that the EU Presidency could request a report on cooperation already next week if it wanted to.
"If Carla del Ponte could keep (Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean) Asselborn informed once a week, she can do the same in the future," Sanader said, adding that it was questionable whether del Ponte's assessment would be taken as the only and decisive opinion in the future.