In 2000, the SDP-led government changed the direction of Croatia's policy, helped the country leave the isolation and set it on the path to the EU," Josip Leko said on behalf of the SDP caucus. "I am confident the citizens of this country remember that, as do deputies in the parliament. The SDP formed that policy as an Alliance for Europe and this policy stands today as well," Leko said adding it was not good to destroy this alliance because of personal frustrations.

MP Davor Ivo Stier of the HDZ earlier today criticised PM Milanovic for making false accusations against the HDZ when claiming that the HDZ was conspiring against Croatia's entry into the European Union.

Stier said in parliament that Milanovic was fabricating the accusations against the HDZ in an attempt to cover up his own incompetence. Stier drew a parallel between the HDZ position and the position of French officer Alfred Dreyfus whose trial and conviction in 1894 on charges of treason became one of the most tense political dramas in French and European history. Known today as the Dreyfus Affair, the incident eventually ended with Dreyfus's complete exoneration.

"It isn't an uncommon practice in parliament to use all means to launch party policies. We support that and this is the meaning of parliamentarism, however it is not good to misuse the Standing Orders in order to present personal frustrations as a policy, especially when that policy is aimed at settling the score with the government or the prime minister contrary to the Standing Orders," Leko said.

The government has always advocated the policy of openness and it will continue to do that and all valid invitations for talks are welcome," Leko said.