Croatia has opened its Schengen borders
Croatia was accepted three years after the European Commission first assessed that the country meets the conditions for entering a zone without classical borders. This will eventually become a reality at the same time as another significant step in the country's European integration, i.e. the adoption of the euro. The introduction of a common currency in Croatia was agreed by the Union finance ministers in July.
On Sunday, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković welcomed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the border crossing with Slovenia to celebrate Croatia's entry into the Schengen area of free movement. The barriers at the border crossings were lifted at the stroke of midnight.
The country is also celebrating its entry into the eurozone, and the finance minister and the head of the central bank in Zagreb symbolically withdrew euros from an ATM, Croatian media reported.
On vacation to Croatia with EURO and without queues at border crossings
On Sunday, the single European currency, the euro, also started to apply in Croatia. Finance Minister Marko Primorac celebrated this step with Governor Vujčič and both withdrew 50 euros from the ATM. “I am proud that in less than ten years since joining the European Union we have achieved another strategic goal and that Croatia is now a member of the euro area," he said according to station N1 Primorac, saying that the euro represents "a solid foundation for stability" in the present "turbulent times". Vujčić described the possibility of withdrawing euros from a Croatian ATM as "great feeling". "We will be more resilient to crises and more attractive for investment and business," he added.