As for the elections, most parties insist on setting a date for them and most of them want the elections to be held in the autumn, while the (ruling) Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) has a somewhat different opinion, Josipovic told a news conference.
The ruling coalition prefers announcing the election date after the completion of Croatia's EU entry talks. They mentioned the end of this year, but most parties believe that the date should be more precisely defined, he said.
All parliamentary parties, except the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP), said it was necessary to bring the EU entry talks to conclusion.
"All parties, except the HSP, strongly advocate Croatia's admission to the EU and support efforts to complete the negotiations in June this year," the president said.
He said that today's consultations reopened the door for dialogue between the opposition and the ruling coalition.
"I believe that general consensus was achieved for renewing and reinvigorating the Alliance for the EU," Josipovic said, calling for the intensification of efforts aimed at attaining Croatia's goal of entering the EU.
The president also called on both the government and the Opposition to engage in the pro-EU campaign in the country, adding that the government should inform the public about the benefits of EU membership.
He said that today's consultations were not designed to undermine the current government or to give it additional support. He described the consultations as a catalyst for achieving good results.
Josipovic said that Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor enjoyed his support in the country's plan to join the European bloc.
He reiterated that he had convened the consultations due to the economic and political crisis and the latest developments and that in his opinion the fixing of the election date would bring relief to the political scene.