Representatives of the largest club of deputies, the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU), congratulated the Croatian people on the opening of the membership talks and pointed out that credit for this should go to Prime Minister Ivo Sanader.
"This is particularly a success of Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and his government which managed to create conditions for the start of negotiations in less than two years," reads a press release issued by the CDU/CSU club.
The press release says that the Ivo Sanader cabinet was the first to fully cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
The CDU/CSU union also points out the positive role of Austria, particularly Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, in the process of acknowledgement of Croatia's efforts.
"The Austrian Government has much contributed to eliminating opposition in the EU to a Central European Croatia and to acknowledging the Croatian government's efforts," the statement noted.
The second largest club of deputies, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), also welcomes the EU decision to launch negotiations with Croatia.
"The opening of accession talks with Croatia is good news for the entire region as such developments have a positive impact on neighbouring countries," said the club's spokesman in charge of European affairs.
Contrary to the CDU/CSU club, which greeted only the start of the entry talks with Croatia, SPD deputies welcomed both the start of EU membership talks with Croatia and with Turkey.
"The SPD will actively follow and support negotiations with Croatia and Turkey," the SPD press release reads.
This party also criticised the conduct of the "Conservative government" in Vienna and its treatment of Turkey.
The spokesman for the Greens in the Bundestag, Rainder Steenblock, welcomed the opening of entry talks with Croatia and expressed hope that the runaway general Ante Gotovina, who is wanted by the Hague war crimes tribunal, would soon be transferred to the ICTY.
The spokesman for the Free Democratic Party (FDP) in the Bundestag, Werner Hoyer, extended congratulations to the peoples of Croatia and Turkey on the opening of accession negotiations with the EU.