After their meeting in Zagreb on Thursday, Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor and the European Commissioner for Justice, Viviane Reding, commented on anti-government protests in Zagreb and demands for setting a date for parliamentary elections.

According to time frames defined by the Constitution, elections can be held until early 2012. It is the ruling majority that decides on the elections, Kosor said, condemning violence at the protests.

"Everybody has the right to protest," she said, adding that she deplored violence.

Commissioner Reding said that citizens had the right to protest and politicians had the obligation to listen to them.

The European Union will not meddle into something that the Croatian government can do well on its own, said Reding who arrived in Zagreb for a two-day meeting of the European People's Party (EPP) in the Croatian capital.

Croatia has received confirmation that the door is open for completing accession negotiations with the European Union in June and now everything has to be done to achieve that, Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor said after meeting European Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding in Zagreb on Thursday.

"We have received confirmation that the door for June is open. Now we will do our best and walk through the door in June," said Kosor.

"It depends on us the most," she said, adding the government would now draw up an action plan and that everything was feasible.

Reding said Croatia had made impressive progress in the negotiation chapter regulating the judiciary and fundamental rights, adding that some chapters still needed to be officially closed.

The two officials also commented on recent anti-government demonstrations in Zagreb demanding that elections be called.

"Under the constitution, elections can be held by the beginning of next year. The ruling majority decides on elections where this is envisaged and not in the streets," Kosor said, adding that everyone had the right to demonstrate, but condemned violence.

"I don't support those saying no to the EU, because if we miss this opportunity because of political score-settling, we will have lost a lot," said Kosor.

Reding said citizens had the right to demonstrate and politicians the obligation to listen.

After that, based on their own assessment, politicians decide whether to make changes or not. The EU won't interfere in something the Croatian government can solve on its own, she added.

Reding was in Zagreb to attend a two-day European People's Party conference focusing on the completion of Croatia's EU accession negotiations.