Croatia is undoubtedly a European country and there is no question whether, but when it will join the EU, Swoboda told the press.
Swoboda, a Socialist deputy from Austria, and Hungary's Schmit, of the European People's Party, held a press conference on the 15th anniversary of Croatia's statehood.
Swoboda is also the European Parliament's rapporteur for Croatia, while Schmit co-chairs the EU-Croatia Joint Parliamentary Committee.
Swoboda said Croatia would certainly join between 2009 and 2011, while Schmit expects it to join this decade so that it can participate in the 2009 elections for the European Parliament.
Swoboda said Croatia's accession should be preceded by the constitutional process which would result in a document which would enable the Union to efficiently function and further expand.
Schmit said Croatia should be the last country to join the EU from the current enlargement round and not the first from the next one.
Both said Croatia had a key role in the western Balkans.
They called on Croatia to continue with reforms, notably in the judiciary.