When Croatia becomes part of the border-free Schengen area on January 1 next year, it will bring certain personnel and organizational changes to the Croatian police.

Croatia will, from January 1 next year, become even more integrated into the European Union family when not only the Euro will be adopted as the official currency but also Croatia will become part of the border-free Schengen region.

Clearly Croatia sees its future in the EU, a union that could well expand in the future with the inclusion of Moldova and Ukraine. The introduction of the Euro will be a relatively painless step for Croatia, as the Kuna is already “tied” to the Euro.

However, entrance into the Schengen block of European countries could be slightly more challenging, although at the same time rewarding. Citizens, and indeed tourists, will be able to travel through the European Union towards Croatia without border controls, meaning less queues at border controls.

The inclusion in the Schengen borderless group has meant that the Croatian Police have had to adapt to the new regime. Some police stations have been abolished, some merged, writes Jutarnji List. It is difficult to say whether the police structure will change again in less than six months, but it is quite certain that there will be no need for a police ramp and border house at some major Croatian checkpoints, because the EU external border will be moved towards Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. Zagreb police are chronically short of between 800 and 1,000 police officers, and some border guards could fill deficient police stations, writes Jutarnji List today.