The EU country of Croatia made two decisive innovations on New Year’s Eve: at midnight, the country on the Adriatic Sea introduced the euro as its national currency – and at the same time joined the border-free Schengen zone. Both make life easier for millions of vacationers. You no longer need to exchange money and save yourself exchange rate losses and often hours of waiting at the Slovenian-Croatian border crossings. Croatia is the 20th country with the common currency. One euro is equal to 7.5345 kuna.
Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic and Slovenian Public Administration Minister Sanja Ajanovic Hovnik saw the end of border controls at the Bregana border crossing at midnight. “This is the final confirmation of our European identity, which generations of Croats fought for and won in the end,” Bozinovic said, according to Croatian TV channel HRT. Border controls will no longer apply to air travelers within the Schengen zone from 26 March.
One euro is equal to 7.5345 kuna
The former Yugoslav republic became independent in 1991. The euro replaces the Croatian national currency, the kuna, which has been in circulation since 1994. The exchange rate is fixed: one euro is equal to 7.5345 kuna. There is a transition period until January 14, during which you can still pay in both currencies.
Video: No more border controls from January 1
With its long Adriatic coast and many picturesque bays and islands, Croatia relies heavily on tourism. Statistics show that there will be 16 million foreign holidaymakers in the first eleven months of 2022. In the record year 2019, the last year before the outbreak of the corona pandemic, there were 17.3 million. Lithuania last joined the eurozone in 2015.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
