A further step has been taken in the process leading to Croatia’s accession to the euro area at the beginning of 2023 after the Eurogroup endorsed the European Commission’s positive recommendation in Luxembourg on Thursday, 16 June (see EUROPE 12693/1).
“Ministers agreed with the European Commission’s and the European Central Bank’s positive assessment of Croatia’s fulfilment of convergence criteria,” the press release states. Delighted with this development, President of the Eurogroup Paschal Donohoe said, “This is [...] a strong signal for European integration.”
The dossier has been sent to the European Council meeting on 23 and 24 June, which will also be pleased that Croatia is going to become the 20th member of the euro area.
At the European level, the legislative procedure will be completed during the Ecofin Council on Tuesday, 12 July, in the course of which the final conversion rate for the Croatian kuna will be decided. Preparations for the physical introduction of the euro in Croatia will continue until the end of the year.
Bulgaria—which was admitted to the ‘ERM II’ (exchange rate mechanism) in July 2020 at the same time as Croatia (see EUROPE 12525/4)—aspires to join the euro area in early 2024. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)