Kosor had invited parliamentary parties to the meeting to discuss the completion of the accession talks and improvement of the strategy to acquaint members of the public with the benefits of EU entry, following her talks with senior officials of the European Commission in Brussels earlier this week.

Representatives of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), the Peasant Party (HSS), the Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS), other minority MPs, and the HDSSB party arrived at government headquarters for the talks, while the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP), People's Party (HNS), Istrian Democratic Party (IDS) and Croatian Labour Party did not show up.

HNS MP Vesna Pusic said before the meeting that she would attend in her capacity as chair of the National Committee overseeing Croatia's EU accession talks. She added that HNS president Radimir Cacic had not responded to Kosor's invitation because the party believed such a general meeting aimed at confirming the alliance for Europe was unnecessary because the alliance existed and the job it was doing was nearing completion.

"The time has come for an operational agreement which is less attractive to the media, and which has to focus on a few people who are capable of doing the political job," Pusic said.

SDP leader Zoran Milanovic said earlier that he would not attend the meeting as he considered Kosor's invitation to be PR rather than an invitation by a political leader.

Kosor responded by saying, "Who is in favour of completing the job of joining the EU will come to the meeting, and who isn't, won't come".

The meeting at government headquarters started after late on Wednesday night the parliament turned down an SDP proposal to give the Prime Minister a vote of no confidence.

Kosor on Monday met with EC President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding who she said had given her their full support.