In a debate on the present and future of Central Europe, participants said they expected Bulgaria and Romania to meet the remaining terms and join the EU despite the fact that the European Commission postponed for the autumn its decision on the two countries' readiness for membership.
Several presidents supported Croatia's EU membership, which Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, speaking to Croatian reporters, assessed as an important gesture.
He also said Europe would be the true partner to the US and others only when it was united.
The positions stated in the debate confirmed that the countries of Central Europe were linked historically and have the same goal, united Europe, although presently they are at different stages of development as some are EU members, some are accession candidates and some are just starting their path to the EU.
The meeting was attended by 13 presidents of Central European states. The heads of state of Germany, Italy, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro did not attend.
President Mesic held separate talks with his Slovene and Lithuanian counterparts.
He told the press that his talks with Janez Drnovsek of Slovenia addressed several outstanding issues which could be settled with good political will on both sides.
"We assessed that cooperation between the two countries is very good, that business people cooperate, but that some issues halt cooperation, such as the Ljubljanska Banka case, which is obstructing many economic projects," said Mesic.
He added the talks also addressed the issue of the border in Piran Bay and that they were hopeful that the two countries' governments would try to reach an agreement, and if they failed, the matter would go to court.
Drnovsek's office said in a press release the two presidents discussed the referendum on independence Montenegro is holding on Sunday and the Kosovo issue.
Speaking of bilateral relations, Drnovsek and Mesic assessed that dialogue on the presidential level was constructive and agreed they will continue with it, said the press release.
Mesic's talks with Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus addressed the advancement of cooperation between the two countries.