05/07/2022 (Agence Europe) – The European Parliament voted by a large majority (539 votes in favour, 45 against, 48 abstentions), on Tuesday 5 July, in favour of Croatia joining the euro area from the 1 January 2023 (see EUROPE 12973/2), considering that the country meets all the criteria necessary to adopt the single currency despite the difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It notes that the price level in Croatia has already reached a higher level of price convergence with the euro area than other Member States when they joined the euro area expecting sustained efforts by Zagreb to ensure that the introduction of the euro does not lead to artificial price increases. See the ‘Mureșan’ report: https://aeur.eu/f/2hh (MB)