Addressing reporters, the European commissioner said the Commission's interim report on Croatia's performance in Judiciary and Fundamental Rights was an encouragement.
The report clearly notes that impressive progress has been achieved in Policy Chapter No.23, Reding said congratulating Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor and her cabinet for the done job.
It is now on you to make the final steps, Reding said adding that Croatia should do the remaining job to fully meet all requirements for the provisional closing of the said negotiating area.
There are small gaps to be filled in and I am confident that laws would be enforced in practice, she said.
According to Reding, the European Commission has compiled a ten-point list as guidelines which Croatia should follow to fill in the remaining small gaps.
PM Kosor told reporters that the finish line was within reach.
The door is open and we should come closer and walk through it," the Croatian premier said commenting on Croatia's European Union membership bid.
The government will start solving the remaining tasks as of Monday, she added.
She expressed confidence that Croatian citizens had recognised benefits of EU membership and that their support to Croatia's admission would be great.
Kosor also views Croatia's prospective entry into the EU as an opportunity for the national economy and for young people, adding that the European Commission has projected a budget of EUR 3.5 billion for the first two years of Croatia's EU membership.
Just as in his opening speech at the start of the EPP conference in Zagreb, Joseph Daul, Chairman of the EPP Group, told reporters the EPP had gathered in Zagreb to tell the Croatian people how much it wanted Croatia in the European bloc.
Croatia will make gains from the solidarity in the EU bloc, he added.