Croatia can be proud of its entry into the euro zone and the Schengen area because this will attract investment and contribute to the creation of jobs and growth, said the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in an interview given to the agency by Croatian media HINA, broadcast on Saturday.
Von der Leyen will visit Croatia in the New Year, when border crossing points and controls with Slovenia and Hungary – EU states – will be removed and the euro currency will be officially introduced.
The EC President emphasized in the interview, in her answers to HINA’s questions, that the people of Croatia worked very hard to make this day possible.
With this step, Croatia completes its European integration and will enjoy some of the greatest benefits the EU can provide, Leyen said.
Asked about the short- and medium-term prospects for Croatia to reach the European average in terms of living standards, the EC President noted that the country has steadily narrowed the gap with the EU average in this regard since accession, now 10 years, according to the source cited by Agerpres.
“Your economy has demonstrated its resilience after the COVID crisis. You were hit hard, but you recovered quickly and with strength. So the potential is there. Now, it must be fully utilized and your economy will become more productive,” Von der Leyen added.
Editor: Liviu Cojan
