A resolution on the matter was adopted unanimously on Thursday evening.
Recognising and supporting Croatia's full membership in NATO as a merited framework for Croatia's progress and contribution to Euro-Atlantic bloc, the EPP summit calls on its members to be engaged in preparations for NATO's decision in Riga with the aim of Croatia's admission to the alliance in 2008, reads the resolution.
Present at the EPP summit in Hotel Kaemp were eight Prime Ministers of member-states: Jan-Peter Balkenende of the Netherlands, Kostas Karamanlis of Greece, Fredrik Reinfeldt of Sweden, Wolfgang Schuessel of Austria, Jean-Claude Juncker of Luxembourg, Lawrence Gonzi of Malta, Janez Jansa of Slovenia, and Aigars Kalvitis of Latvia as well as European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.
Emphasising the importance of trans-Atlantic partnership, the EPP holds that Croatia's membership in the EU will positively contribute to the strengthening of the Union and encourage a positive development in ensuring a permanent architecture of stability in southeastern Europe, the document reads.
Croatia's Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, who was at the summit, hailed the resolution which he said gave clear support to Croatia's admission to NATO and the EU.
Sanader also held talks with Barroso. According to the Croatian official, the EC President once again confirmed that Croatia will become the 28th member of the EU when it meets the criteria and closes the negotiations.
Before the start of the EPP summit, Sanader met Wilfried Martens, the EPP chief, who said that the EPP definitely wanted to have Croatia as an EU member before the next elections for the European Parliament in 2009.