"If you ask me when we will join the EU, I don't know, and frankly, nobody does. What is important is to complete the negotiations as soon as possible, but not at breakneck speed. We wish to combine speed with quality, as well as ambitions and reality," Drobnjak said at a lunch for business people from the American Chamber of Commerce in Croatia.
"We expect a lot from Finland's EU presidency, when more will be known about the dynamic of the negotiations, namely about the pace at which the next chapters will be opened," he said referring to the analysis of the adjustment of Croatian legislation to EU standards.
He added that this process, known as screening, was expected to be completed in October, when Finland will chair the Union. Finland is due to take up the six-month rotating presidency on July 1.
Drobnjak said one-third of the screening process was behind Croatia, with 13 chapters having undergone bilateral and 16 explanatory screening.
He also mentioned the recent accent on the EU's ability to accept new members. "We maintain that Croatia should have no problems in this respect," he said.