The model of monetisation that should be acceptable to all sides is not ideal but is viable. The motorways remain as Croatian property and road tolls are precisely regulated by contracts between the government and concession-holders, Milanovic said at the start of a meeting of the SDP main committee that is expected to discuss the party's performance at the recent local elections and plans for intra-party elections.

"We can pretend that there is no problem or we can try to conclude a precisely defined contract with those who can get cheaper money than Croatia," Milanovic said while pushing for the monetisation of the motorways' debt through their lease, despite the growing criticism from the opposition, trade unions and employers' associations.

Milanovic said that there were good examples of concessions granted on motorways in France, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

He also pointed out the example of the international concession-holders for the motorway in the Croatian peninsula of Istria. Initially, there were objections, but the thing is now functioning generally well, and no one is against it, Milanovic said.

He said that one could not avoid servicing debts, notably those ones incurred when the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) was in power.

"We can withdraw our proposal if the so-called expert public and the opposition keep opposing the monetisation and threaten to organise a referendum, but in that case they will service loans," he added.