"We are satisfied and happy with the outcome of yesterday's meetings and with the decision of the European Council to open negotiations with Croatia on March 17," Zuzul told reporters in the Foreign Ministry building.
The minister said that the decision was "the result of a good diplomatic action" and the fact that Croatia had met all the necessary criteria for the start of membership talks.
"I want to point out that the Council's decision does not set any new conditions or criteria. We must fulfil all the criteria that have been defined earlier, notably the Copenhagen criteria and those specific criteria, such as cooperation with the Hague tribunal," Zuzul said.
"We know now when we start and how we will conduct the negotiations. (...) We are ready for the next stage. I think that yesterday was an important moment not only in the history of relations between Croatia and the EU, but also in the history of the Croatian state," the minister said.
European Integration Minister Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic said that Croatia continued its work on meeting all the criteria. "In October we started with the so-called pre-screening, a preliminary assessment of the adjustment of Croatian legislation to European standards. The official screening, which is a precondition for the negotiating platform, will start after the opening of talks."
Speaking of preparations for the start of the talks with the EU, Grabar-Kitarovic mentioned analytical preparations, the preparation of a database, training, and "very concrete talks" on the composition of the negotiating team.
"I think it is extremely important to reach a political consensus on the negotiating team, so I welcome agreements that criteria for the appointment of a dozen chief negotiators should be discussed," the minister said.