The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and several commissioners welcomed on Friday Croatia’s simultaneous accession to the EU’s passport-free Schengen Area and the euro zone on 1 January 2023, hailing this as a “great achievement for both Croatia and the European Union.”
The Commission issued a statement on Friday describing Croatia’s journey towards joining the two associations. Commissioner for Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, said that this New Year will be an unforgettable one for the Croatian people.