The European Union is expanding the borders of the Schengen area. Croatia, which was approved to be included in the Schengen and euro area at the meeting of the Interior Council, which is composed of EU Interior Ministers, on 8 December last year, was officially included in the said regions with the new year.
BORDER BARRIERS REMOVED
Croatia, which entered the EU in 2013, lifted the barrier for the last time by placing a sign saying “free passage”, symbolizing the end of police border controls, with a ceremony held at the Bregana border crossing on the border with Slovenia at midnight last night.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic later held a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar. “It is a day when we witness a state achieve its strategic goals and there are historical moments that honor us,” Plenkovic said at the press conference.
“A DAY THAT WILL BE IN HISTORY BOOKS”
Von der Leyen said: “Today, Croatia joins the Schengen area and the euro area, two great achievements for the youngest member state of the European Union. It achieved both on the same day. This is a day that will truly be in the history books.”
After their bilateral meeting, Plenkovic and von der Leyen toured the capital Zagreb and bought a coffee from a cafe with euros instead of kuna. Plenkovic was applauded by von der Leyen as he paid for the coffees in euro. (UAV)
