"Almost full agreement was reached that the postponement of Croatia's entry talks be discussed at least at an informal part of the summit," Slovene Prime Minister Janez Jansa said after the end of the EPP meeting in Meise.
Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader expressed satisfaction with the discussion on Croatia at the EPP meeting.
"Almost all premiers expressed support to Croatia's ambition to start the negotiations as soon as possible," Sanader said in Meise.
I believe that we have confirmed Croatia's credibility and we are are optimistic, Sanader said adding that the discussion on Croatia lasted more than an hour.
Jansa said that it could be expected from the EU summit to give "instructions to ministers who decided on the postponement, to define more clearly at the next meeting and elaborate the model for the verification of the Croatia's cooperation with the Hague tribunal."
EPP President Wilfried Martens reiterated the position of this organisation, which includes European Democratic Christians and members of People's Parties, that "Croatia is fully cooperating with the Hague tribunal", adding that it was important that the EU alone should verify the cooperation.
It is not enough to rely only on indications made by the chief prosecutor of the Hague tribunal, Carla del Ponte, he said.
The only dissonant opinion at the EPP session was expressed by Dutch PM Jan-Peter Balkenende. Martens explained that Balkenende did not give his personal opinion but conveyed the position of a majority of deputies in the Dutch parliament who he said hade some doubts about the Croatian cooperation with the tribunal.