Wunenburger said that Croatia had made great progress in the last four years and that now it was much closer to the European Union than it had been at the start of his term.
"I have no doubt that negotiations will open. It is now a matter of weeks or maybe two or three months. I am convinced that by the end of the year (Croatia) will have started negotiations and then the rest is a matter of business as usual. Croatia will definitely be a member in the years to come, very soon," he said after his farewell visit to Croatian President Stjepan Mesic.
Wunenburger, who is leaving Croatia in August, said he had told Mesic that he would have been happier if he left Croatia after EU membership talks had started, but that he could not achieve that.
Wunenburger was not particularly pleased when a reporter asked him what else he had done to help Croatia on its way to Europe "except for the blatant criticism."
He recalled that during his term the European Commission had given Croatia a positive opinion of its readiness to join the EU and that Croatia had been granted candidate status and financial aid to implement reforms. "Doesn't that count?" he asked.
When reminded by the reporter that the question was about his personal contribution, Wunenburger said that all the above achievements had partly been the result of his efforts.
"I was part of the game," Wunenburger said, adding that "contrary to some other countries and some other people in this country, I always told the truth."
During their meeting, Mesic presented Wunenburger with a high Croatian state decoration, the Order of Prince Branimir.