"We applaud our country's Danubian strategy and Danubian policy, but we insist on Croatia's Mediterranean policy, which is why this meeting is strategically valuable," he said, adding that holding such a conference ahead of parliamentary elections was very important, as it "builds a new future for Croatia" and "creates new relations in the Mediterranean."

Jakovcic said the IDS and the Spanish party Convergencia Democratica de Catalunya (CDC), the organisers of the event, as well as the regions of Istria and Catalonia were "similar in the values their citizens shared in human rights, multiculturalism and tolerance."

Vesna Pusic, vice president of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party and a senior official of the Croatian People's Party (HNS), said the Mediterranean was virtually invisible a decade ago but was now at the forefront of European interest.

She said Croatia was part of Central Europe, the Western Balkans and the Mediterranean, but that "we invested the least effort in the Mediterranean dimension," adding that it was time for Croatia to start developing the Mediterranean part of its identity and its role in the Mediterranean.

Pusic said that with this conference, the opposition coalition of which the IDS and the HNS were part had started dealing with important topics for Croatia in their European contacts as well.

Parliament Deputy Speaker Neven Mimica said the conference confirmed the opposition coalition's determination to decentralise the state.