Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Ivica Racan said he was glad that today's decision was not as strict as yesterday, when he said there was mention that it would be more "explicit" as to Croatia's obligation to cooperate with the Hague war crimes tribunal, and when it was said that the Council would decide on the cooperation once more.
"We should be satisfied. We should not be worried about the decision but about how much we are ready for the negotiations, which will evidently start. Things don't look good there," said Racan.
Peasant Party (HSS) leader Zlatko Tomcic is satisfied with the eased conditions in today's decision. He said too much attention was recently paid to whether the negotiations would start in March or April, and what conditions would be set before Croatia.
"Croatia's position is known. I personally don't think the EU will start the negotiations until (General Ante) Gotovina is in The Hague. We can't do anything to influence the international community. It will start the negotiations when it wants to," said Tomcic, adding that Croatia should prepare for the negotiations as much as possible.
People's Party (HNS) spokesman Boris Blazekovic said the fact that Croatia would start the negotiations in March was positive because it reflected the EU's optimism that Croatia could meet conditions in a relatively short period of time.
Blazekovic said he was sorry the start of the negotiations was conditional, but voiced hope Croatia would successfully settle all issues burdening its relations with the EU.
He added that apart from the failure to extradite Gotovina to the UN war crimes tribunal, the likely reasons for the conditional decision were the insufficient rule of law in Croatia, non-transparent economic and privatisation ventures, and recent scandals involving the Counterintelligence Agency and Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul.
Party of Rights (HSP) president Anto Djapic said the condition, although eased, still stood. He wondered who would decide on whether Croatia cooperated with the Hague tribunal, and said the Government must devise a new tactic in relations with the UN court.
"The Government has so far failed to oppose Carla del Ponte's insulting assessments and lies in any way. If we really wish to start the EU entry talks, we mustn't allow the chief prosecutor to independently make political evaluations in the future but demand that she make an official legal evaluation of the cooperation with the tribunal," said Djapic, adding that otherwise another obstacle might be put before Croatia in March.
Social Liberal Party (HSLS) vice-president Djurdja Adlesic said she was sorry the decision on the start of Croatia's EU entry talks was conditional. She said Croatia had already accepted all the conditions that had been set because they referred to legal and not political issues.
Adlesic said she was dissatisfied that the prime minister and the president recently spent more than 10 days arguing over the Counterintelligence Agency instead of lobbying in the EU.
She called on all political parties to reach a consensus on EU integration, notably on the best possible preparations for EU entry, primarily in the economy and agriculture.
Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) vice-president Damir Kajin said today's decision was a big success for the Ivo Sanader Cabinet because if it had not been made Croatia would have lost one or two years.
He said one of the advantages of the decision on the start of the entry talks was that Croatia's future would be determined to a great extent by the EU and no longer by "tutors from Washington".
Kajin cautioned that Croatia had still many issues to solve, notably in home affairs. "Nothing will be given to us as a gift. We'll have to work much more, all Croatian citizens, if we wish to move Croatia forward."
Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS) vice-president Milorad Pupovac said the European Council's decision was in line with expectations because it was the result of the considerable effort made by both Europe and Croatia. He said the negotiating process would be much more difficult and demanding.
Pupovac said the negotiations could not be the issue of only one party and the Government but of all in the country capable of holding the best negotiating positions and achieving the best results. He added the negotiations should be accompanied by reforms on the home front because they were crucial for the exploitation of pre-accession funds, the speed of the negotiations and the setting of the EU entry date.
Liberal Party (LS) vice-president Zlatko Kramaric said Croatia deserved today's decision and that all Croatian governments so far had proved they cooperated with the Hague tribunal. "There's no point in punishing Croatian citizens for the Gotovina case," he said, adding that Croatia now faced a much more difficult process of adapting to EU standards.
Democratic Centre (DC) vice-president Josko Moric said the European Council's decision was within expectations. "The eased conditions confirm that the European leaders understand that Croatia is raising European standards in all areas".
Moric said the Government had managed to make the judiciary credible both at home and abroad, as evidenced by the fact that all Croatians indicted by the Hague tribunal were granted provisional release pending trial.
He voiced confidence the negotiations would indeed start in the spring, that progress would be made in reforms, and that serious headway might be expected in the Gotovina issue.
Libra president Jozo Rados said the European Council's decision was much better than one Croatia had feared. He added that due to the condition, namely that Croatia take all the necessary steps with a view to full cooperation with the Hague tribunal, Croatia would be monitored more strictly than other countries.