In an article headlined "Zagreb on the road to the Union", Vecernje Novosti says that the EU started accession talks with Croatia on Monday "thanks, above all, to a favourable report by Carla del Ponte." The newspaper quoted the chief prosecutor as saying that at the moment Croatia's cooperation with the tribunal was "the best of all countries in the region."
Danas says that the number of Croatian citizens supporting the country's EU membership bid has been on the rise lately and that the support is expected to grow further after the actual start of the negotiations.
Blic highlighted the role of Austria as crucial, saying that "the insistence of Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik that the wording 'privileged membership' as a possible outcome of the talks be included in the text of the agreement with Turkey was apparently a skilful dribble to set Zagreb on the road to the EU." The newspaper also carried Croatian newspaper headlines in a box under the headline "Croatia bids farewell to the Balkans".
In an article headlined "Vienna pushes Croats forward along with Turks", Glas Javnosti says that "in the process of negotiation (Croatia) is required to comply with the Copenhagen criteria, which provide for the return of refugees and the exercise of their rights, the regulation of the position of the minorities, judicial reform, and regional cooperation."
Politika carried reactions by Croatian politicians to the EU decision in an article headlined "The real job lies ahead". The newspaper noted that the negotiating process could be suspended at any moment if it turned out that Croatia was not delivering on its commitments.