"The new year is a time of new beginnings, and today there is no better place in Europe to celebrate it, as a day of celebration and pride for Croatians , but also for all citizens of Europe ".

These are the words of the president of the European Commission , Ursula von der Leyen , who arrived at the Bregana crossing , on the Croatian-Slovenian border, to celebrate Croatia's entry into the Schengen area and the Eurozone .

«From today – he added – people pass here without controls , and from today the Croatians have the euro as their currency , the second world currency which makes us Europeans stronger in the world. The euro is one of our greatest successes ».

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković also joined her: "We have deservedly achieved our objectives, convinced that the euro and Schengen will be advantageous for Croatian citizens and for our economy". The new president of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar was also present.

(Unioneonline/vf)