Plenkovic said the presidency would have bigger importance for Croatia than anything done so far and that Croatia would be stronger and more respected. The administration will be more effective in deciding on the financial perspective and the absorption of EU funds and all funds contracted will be utilised by 2023, he added.
Plenkovic dismissed claims that he was not working in Croatia's interest. As for Social Democrats (SDP) president Davor Bernardic that he was "parading" in Europe, he said something like that could be said by "someone who doesn't understand what it's about". He added that some wanted to downplay the importance of the Croatian presidency.
Vesna Pusic of the GLAS party said that this should not be considered a success of one political party but of the Croatian state.
Croatia must profit from the presidency and a good image can contribute to its reputation and participation in the adoption of decisions at EU level that also concern Croatian citizens, she said.
Pusic welcomed Plenkovic's talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, the key person regarding the unblocking of the EU enlargement process.
Josko Klisovic (SDP) said that he did not have a full insight into the priorities of Croatia's EU presidency. He called for the continuation of enlargement during Croatia's presidency and for launching accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania as soon as possible.
Bernardic said Plenkovic was "showing off" in the Croatian Parliament because he could not do so in Brussels and that, by arguing with SDP MPs, he was increasing his rating before intra-party elections in his HDZ party.
Domagoj Ivan Milosevic (HDZ) expressed disappointment that accession talks have still not been launched with North Macedonia and Albania, noting that the consequences were already being felt. He added that Brexit would be completed during Croatia's presidency, recalling that the deadline was January 31.
Hrvoje Zekanovic (Sovereignists) said that he would like the prime minister to have mentioned in his report that Croatia was still looking for more than 1,000 people gone missing in the 1990s war and that there were outstanding issues in relations with Serbia.
In an ironic remark he expressed hope Democracy and Demography Commissioner Dubravka Suica of Croatia would not speak about successful demographic measures that were being implemented in Croatia.
He also claimed that neither the prime minister nor the culture minister were reacting to what he described as exhibitionism by Rijeka Mayor Vojko Obersnel and the installation of a five-pointed star on one of Rijeka's high-rises.
Miro Bulj of the Bridge party said that he did not consider Croatia's EU presidency as particularly important, warning that Croatia was at the bottom of the ranking in terms of absorption of EU funds.
Even though the Democracy and Demography Commissioner comes from Croatia, we are doing little in that regard, he said, warning about the problem of illegal migration and noting that Croatia had to protect its borders. He also warned about the upcoming liberalisation of farmland in Croatia which foreigners would be able to buy too.