Ramsauer is at the helm of the CSU delegation that is on a visit to Croatia so as to get an insight into reforms Zagreb was carrying out on its path to the EU.
Joining the EU required efforts and I am convinced that Croatia will succeed in that, Ramsauer told reporters.
It is possible for Croatia to join the EU by the elections for the European Parliament in 2009, he said, adding that this was an ambitious objective to which Croatia must aspire.
Stressing that Croatia a country with a stable democracy and a stability factor in Southeast Europe, Ramsauer said he was impressed by Croatia's macroeconomic stability and the country's success in preventing inflation and external debt growth.
He, however, underlined certain deficits in the adoption of the European acquis communautaire, concerning the state administration and justice sectors.
The German official stressed the CSU would advocate the separation of the EU accession negotiations of Croatia and Turkey and Croatia's joining the EU.
Over the past several days, the German delegation held talks with top Croatian officials - President Stjepan Mesic, Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and several ministers, as well as with representatives of the German national minority.