After the meeting with Sanader in Zagreb, the head of the delegation, Graham Watson, said that the ALDE was looking forward to further cooperation with a view to helping Croatia enter the EU as soon as possible.
The ALDE delegation, that arrived in Zagreb for a three-day visit at the invitation of three Croatian parties - the HSLS, HNS and the IDS - congratulated Sanader on the progress Croatia had made on the road to the EU and voiced satisfaction with the ongoing membership negotiations.
We hope we will work together to ensure smooth and relatively speedy admission of Croatia into European Union membership, Watson told reporters.
He also voiced satisfaction with good cooperation with sister parties in Croatia -- Social Liberals (HSLS), the Croatian People's Party (HNS) and the Istrian Democratic Party (IDS).
PM Sanader told the press that the Liberals offered full support to Croatia in a bid to join the EU.
Regardless of how discussions on the European Union and its absorption capacity proceed, they said it is beyond dispute that Croatia must become a member and I thank them for that, the Croatian premier said.
He said he was glad about this visit, adding that Croatia "would like to develop good relations and intensive dialogue with all groups in the European parliament".
Present at the meeting were chiefs of the HNS, HSLS and IDS, Vesna Pusic, Djurdja Adlesic and Ivan Jakovcic respectively.
Addressing a news conference in the Croatian parliament later on, Watson said that the Liberal-Democrat Group in the European Parliament had always supported Croatia's admission to the Union.
He also praised Croatia for having taking a leading role in the region.
Watson said he was also satisfied with good cooperation with the liberal parties in Croatia.
Annemie Neyts Uyttebroeck, the chief od the European Liberal Democrat and Reform (ELDR) Party also expressed support to Croatia on its road to EU membership.
She added that EU membership was one of the best guarantees for development, peace and stability.
The ELDR gathers liberal and democratic parties from over 30 European countries. Croatia's HNS and IDS are full members, while the HSLS is an associate member.
After the news conference, the ADLE delegation took part in a round table discussion on Croatia, the EU and liberal options, which was held in the Sabor. The discussion pooled representatives of liberal parties from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Kosovo.