ZAGREB, CROATIA –

- I am positive that Croatia can end its negotiations by the end of year – Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader pointed put, addressing students and professors of the Faculty of Political Sciences, where vice president of the European Parliament and the president of the European People`s and Democratic parties in the Parliament Joseph Daul held a guest lecture on Friday.

The PM optimistically looked back on the solution of the bloc imposed by Slovenia, saying he believes that Croatian European Union accession negotiation will continue as it was agreed a year and a half ago in Bled.

- This is when we have founded two joint boards: one which defines the disputable issues and the other which defines the legal framework. These two boards are still working and there is initiative for them to meet before the end of January – Sanader said.

- Slovenia is our friend country and we were closest in Yugoslavia. I believe that the Croatian Parliament and the Slovene National Assembly will accept the results of the international proceedings in The Hague. This would solve the situation, it is a good thing that representatives of the European Union will take part in this, like the presidency head so far France – Sanader said.

The PM is also convinced that the Irish will say `yes` to the expansion of the European Union at the repeated referendum, which open`s Croatian doors to the EU.

Take a look at the photo gallery from the lecture: Republic of Croatia and EU: Joint Challenges.