January 1st 2023 marked the beginning of a brand new generation for Croatia. With its accession to the Schengen house showed, border controls have been abolished and the kuna was once changed through the euro as the rustic’s nationwide foreign money.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen visited Zagreb to mark the instance. A small crowd collected within the town’s major sq. to observe von der Leyen having a espresso with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković … after which paying in euros.
Residents right here appear glad in regards to the alternate, with many taking a look ahead to hassle-free trip out and in of neighbouring international locations.
“This is very good for all Croatian people, for all Europe, yes, of course. Because we wait always 1-2 hours at the border, to cross the border. And now it is perfect, we like this, very good,” said one man.
And there’s good news for visitors, too. The change in currency means it’s one less thing to worry about for most European tourists.
“I’m from The Netherlands, so each time I come right here I’ve to replace Euros for Kunas, and now I don’t have to do this, so it’s really nice. And I believe that since Croatia is already a part of the European Union, it simply makes the entirety so much more straightforward,” defined one customer.
On Sunday, von der Leyen, Plenković and Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar held a joint press convention at a key border crossing between Croatia-Slovenia.
“The next generation of Croatians will grow up in Schengen,” stated von der Leyen. “People will be able to travel freely, business will be unhindered by checks, seamless travel will bring tangible results for people living along the border, working across the border or having family on both sides of the border.”
Croatia is the primary nation to sign up for the Schengen zone in 11 years. But it might additionally imply a heightening of safety alongside its borders with non-EU international locations, equivalent to Bosnia and Serbia.
The border between Slovenia and Croatia is 670 kilometres lengthy. The press convention was once held at its busiest level, about 10 kilometres from Zagreb. In 2019, the remaining yr sooner than the pandemic, 29 million other folks have been registered on the border crossings between the 2 international locations.
