ZAGREB, June 7, 2019 - Outgoing European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Friday expressed support for Croatia's aspirations to enter the Schengen Area and the eurozone, saying that he hoped a positive recommendation for Croatia to join the area of passport-free travel would be sent to the European Council before his term in office ends on October 31.
I want us to make a recommendation to the Council for Croatia to join the Schengen Area during the term of this European Commission, Juncker told a press conference in Zagreb which he addressed with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. Juncker arrived in Croatia on Thursday for a two-day visit which started in Dubrovnik and ends in Zagreb.
Plenković, too, said that he expected Croatia to receive a positive recommendation to access the Schengen Area before the end of the current EC, underscoring that a big job had been done in that regard.
"Croatia expects to get a positive evaluation of its progress in fulfilling the criteria to access the Schengen Area before the end of this European Commission's term. In that regard, Croatia has done a lot," Plenković said.
"Immediately after joining the EU we used the first 120 million euro, and after that an additional 120 million euro. Croatia is strengthening its external border and improving police cooperation with neighbouring countries and we are confident that we will meet the final requirement so that the EC can make a positive assessment and forward a motion to the Council," he said.
As far as the eurozone is concerned, the EC president believes that Croatia is completely prepared to join the ERM II mechanism soon.
The European Central Bank will decide on the matter and the EC will support its position, Juncker underscored.
More Schengen Area news can be found in the Politics section.
