"We agreed that progress was made in reform implementation," Josipovic said after the talks with Fuele.

"The public should know that we need to make additional efforts in judiciary reform, cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in connection with the so-called artillery logs, and in negotiations on market competition for all branches of the economy which depend on state subsidies," Josipovic said, expressing conviction that the Croatian public trusted the efforts the authorities were making so that Croatia could wrap up the negotiations and sign the accession treaty next year, as planned.

Fuele said he was glad to be visiting Zagreb immediately after the publication of the progress report which he said was positive but which also stated challenges ahead of Croatia.

A lot has been done over the past several years and President Josipovic and I talked about what needs to be done for the next progress report to be positive as well, so that we can concentrate on the accession treaty next year, Fuele said.

Croatia is in the final stage of the EU membership negotiations, Fuele stressed adding that there were some problems that needed to be resolved before crossing the finish line.

We like you and we want to see you in the European Union, the enlargement commissioner said.

Later today Fuele is scheduled to meet Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor and Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Gordan Jandrokovic.