"I am more optimistic after today's talks," Josipovic said in Kiev where he met Barroso on the margins of a summit conference on safe and innovative use of nuclear energy.
Today's meeting with Barroso was the continuation of the talks the two officials held recently in Zagreb, according to the Croatian president.
"We talked also about the Hague tribunal's judgement and it was stated that the judgement does not affect our negotiations. After all, the Hague tribunal is not a tribunal of the EU but of the United Nations," Josipovic said adding that the respect for the rule of law would be a crucial element in the European Commission's decision on whether Croatia met benchmarks from the negotiating area No. 23 "Judiciary and Fundamental Rights".
Josipovic also met the host of the Kiev conference, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, for talks on bilateral relations between the two friendly countries.