Von der Leyen: Croatia can be proud of itself

Croatia can be proud of its entry into the eurozone and the Schengen area as it will attract investments, help create jobs, and grow the economy, and it could also become a European hub for renewable energy, said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in an interview with Hina.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is visiting Croatia on New Year’s Day, the day when barriers are lifted and border controls with Slovenia and Hungary are abolished, and when the common European currency, the euro, is introduced into circulation.

In her responses to Hina’s questions, von der Leyen emphasizes that Croatian citizens have worked hard to reach this day.

– I know how much effort was needed to meet all the conditions for entering Schengen and to implement the reforms necessary for entering the eurozone. You can be proud of that – she stated.

With this, Croatia completes its full European integration, she said, and ‘its citizens can enjoy some of the best benefits that our Union can provide’.

– Traveling without internal border controls and switching to a currency that will attract more investments, create jobs, and stimulate growth – said von der Leyen.

She emphasized that this is not only a significant achievement for Croatia but also another proof of the strength and unity of the Union.

– With Croatia in the eurozone, 20 EU member states and 347 million EU citizens will share a common EU currency. This will give us even greater influence on the international stage – she said.

She also pointed out that the expanded Schengen area will make Europe stronger and more prosperous, bringing people closer together and facilitating business, she said.

Europe makes Croatia stronger. And Croatia makes Europe stronger

When will Croatia reach the European average?

In response to a question about the short-term and medium-term prospects for Croatia to approach the European average in living standards, von der Leyen says that Croatia has been continuously reducing the gap to the EU average since it joined the Union.

– Your economy has proven its resilience after the COVID crisis. You were hit hard, but you recovered quickly and strongly. So, the potential is there, and now it needs to be fully unleashed and make your economy more productive – she said.

This is where NextGenerationEU comes into play, the European recovery plan, claims the Commission President.

– The right guidelines for the future supported by significant investments – 6.3 billion euros from NextGenerationEU or a total of 15 billion euros if you add the funds from cohesion policy. The Croatian recovery plan includes key reforms expected to have a significant impact on the economy. For example, promoting employment by redesigning labor market policies. Equipping students and workers with the right skills for success in the green and digital transition and improving the business environment in Croatia – she added.

All of this will help make the Croatian economy more competitive and innovative, she claims.

– So, Croatia is heading in the right direction. And now with the entry into the eurozone, even more opportunities are coming – she said.

A significant role in clean energy

The Commission President emphasizes that Croatia can play a significant role in the transition to clean energy sources, which is important for ensuring European energy independence in light of the war in Ukraine.

“We have shifted our energy supply from Russia to reliable energy partners. We have saved energy and filled our gas storage to ensure we are safe and warm this winter. But there is still a lot of work to do if we want to be secure next winter. And now preparations are beginning. We know what we need to do. We must continue to secure as much liquefied gas as we have done this year,” she said.

In addition, the EU must encourage its own production and use of renewable energy sources.

– Renewable sources are the clean, domestic energy we need for the future – emphasizes von der Leyen.

And here Croatia can have a significant role.

– From hydroenergy to solar energy and wind: your potential is incredible. You are already one of the leading EU countries in the use of renewable energy sources. And you can become a true European center for renewable energy. This will be good for your industry and for Europe as a whole – she concluded.