Speaking at a government session, Sanader said he would offer the political parties a consensus on the composition of the negotiating team, reiterating that the team should consist of experts regardless of their party affiliation.
The prime minister said that a consensus on the issue would make it possible for Croatia to complete the negotiations with the European Union in 2007.
Sanader went on to say he was pleased that Croatia's credit rating had improved for the first time in seven years, after the Standard and Poor's agency increased the country's rating from BBB- to BBB on Wednesday.
This is certainly a great success that will be noticed in international financial institutions and is expected to have a positive impact on interest rates, the PM said.
Sanader said that one of the reasons why the credit rating had improved was the fact that Croatia had been given a specific date for the start of membership talks without additional conditions. The talks are scheduled to start on March 17, 2005.