We consider that there is room for us to agree on equal treatment, she said.

That treatment relates to taking on obligations within the framework decision on extradition, considering that we took it on as did some other European countries, with a time limit, said Artukovic Kunst.

Asked to comment on claims by the European Commission that Croatia was protecting criminals and murderers, Artukovic Kunst said that jurists did not speak in these terms.

"We are not protecting murderers but we employees of the ministry and government want a principled and just approach. We wish to set rules that are equal for all, if that's possible", she said.

She underscored that equal treatment for all member states was the essence of the EU.

If there are exceptions, these need to at least be known in advance or rationally explained. We must persist in at least getting an explanation why some are required to act in one way and others in another, the deputy justice minister said in Rijeka.

Responding to journalists, she said that she did not expect the ruling coalition to suffer because of the Lex Perkovic case.

The idea of an equal approach to all European member states is something that surpasses the political level, this in fact is a legal level, Artukovic Kunst said.

Reporters were interested why the ministry had rejected plans to build Justice Square in the country's capital. Artukovic Kunst explained that the ministry supported large projects only if the funding had been secured.

The ministry does not have the funds in its budget, she said, adding that public-private partnership does not mean being granted funds but rather a loan that has to be repaid under special conditions.