I want to be absolutely clear - there is no connection between the debate on the constitution and Croatia's EU membership. It is up to Croatia to meet the set criteria and if it does, it will become a member, said Balkenende, the first Dutch PM ever to visit Croatia.
There is no connection between debates on Turkey's and Croatia's EU membership either. Those are two separate paths where fair play must be respected - fair procedure and the fulfilment of relevant criteria, Balkenende said after meeting his Croatian counterpart Ivo Sanader.
He went on to say that Croatia had done a lot, but added that it must meet all criteria, including reform of the judiciary and the fight against corruption. He added that he was confident that Croatia was going in a direction that would lead it to EU membership.
Many possibilities lie ahead for Croatia, as well as many responsibilities, particularly regarding the region, the Dutch PM said, adding that Croatia had a very important role in cooperation regarding the future of former Yugoslav countries.
Croatian PM Sanader said that Balkenende's visit was a big step in the development of overall relations between Croatia and the Netherlands.
Croatia is particularly interested in developing economic cooperation with the Netherlands, which is the fifth or sixth biggest investor in Croatia, Sanader said, recalling joint projects on the island of Korcula and in the eastern town of Beli Manastir.
The PM informed his guest that Croatia would be very active in the neighbourhood and recalled that the country was chairing the Southeast European Cooperation Process (SEECP). He added that there was a plan for the SEECP to assume, in cooperation with the European Commission and the chairman of the Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe, Erhard Busek, some responsibilities of the Stability Pact, which is nearing completion due to political relations. Sanader also recalled the transformation of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) in line with Croatia's proposal that it expand to Southeast European countries and Moldova. If everything goes as planned, CEFTA is expected to start operating according to the new amendment as of October.
"We care about permanent political stability in our neighbourhood because we do not want to join the EU and NATO with unresolved problems in the region," Sanader said, adding that Croatia would make progress exclusively according to individual achievements.
The Dutch PM recalled having visited Croatia as a young tourist and added that he would recommend to everyone to visit the country.
You have a beautiful country with a wonderful environment which is very attractive to tourists, Balkenende said, adding that returning tourists were proof of positive developments.