With the beginning of the new year, the Croatia officially adopted and introduced the euro in the Schengen area this Sunday (1st), two important steps for the Balkan nation that joined the European Union almost 10 years ago.
The Croatians say goodbye to their currency, the kuna, and become the 20th country to introduce the single European currency. The Schengen area, which among other things allows travel without a passport, now has 27 members.
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Ceremonies were held at midnight to mark the two historic moments. At two of the most important border crossings between Slovenia and Hungary, the symbolic lifting of physical controls was carried out, allowing the first cars to cross the route without presenting documents.
Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic was responsible for pushing the switch control button for the last time at the BreganaBrezice border. “We opened the door to a borderless Europe and clearly reaffirmed our European identity, which generations of Croats fought for,” said the politician.
ATMs in Zagreb have already started issuing euro banknotes even though the transitional period runs until January 14. The exchange rate has been agreed and is 7.53450 Croatian kuna for 1 euro.
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The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, traveled to the SlovenianCroatian border on the occasion of the accession and will meet the country’s government this Sunday.
“Croatia worked hard to become the 20th country to join the eurozone and it succeeded. It is proof that the euro is an attractive currency and brings stability to its members,” said European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde, visiting Zagreb.
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Italian President Sergio Mattarella also spoke, stressing that this is “an important result for the European project and for the Croatian people, to whom I send my best regards”.
“I hope that other countries will soon achieve the same goal for the benefit of the whole European Union,” he added. (