Jandrokovic was reacting to an earlier statement by Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic that there was no doubt that his political opponents would behave the same as the members of his cabinet and would not speak ill of their political rivals.

"I don't know who the prime minister was referring to but we in the HDZ are doing everything we can so that Croatia can become a full member of the EU next year and in that regard our party president is currently attending a summit of the European People's Party in Bucharest", Jandrokovic told reporters in the Parliament building.

Earlier in the day, Milanovic had commented on statements by some foreign politicians expressing doubt that Croatia was ready to join the EU. He said that even while his party was in opposition all their foreign contacts were conducted in Croatia's interest and that they never bad mouthed their political opponents and that he believed the current opposition would act in the same way.

Jandroković recalled Milanovic's recent visit to Germany when he himself referred to Croatia as a country of paradoxes and where taxes are not paid regularly.

"He left a bad image of his own country and that is one of the reasons why Germany is now critical of Croatia's progress", said Jandrokovic.

"We believe that on 1 July Croatia will become a full member of the EU but we expect the government to get down to work and do what needs to be done without philosophising", he concluded.