Croatia is fully ready to enter the Schengen area starting next year, said the Croatian Prime Minister, Andrej Plenković. He pointed out that entry into the border-free European zone would mean faster and cheaper movement of goods and services, meaning greater competitiveness of the Croatian economy. He added that this move will have a significant positive impact on tourism revenues.

"Croatia is fully prepared for the transition from December 31st to January 1st in terms of readiness at borders, border crossings - road, rail, sea. When it comes to airports, we will be fully ready on March 26", he stated.

Croatia will be the 20th member of the euro area and the 23rd EU member state that is in the Schengen area, which also includes Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, and the last expansion of Schengen was in 2011, when Liechtenstein entered.

Plenković also pointed out that the interest of citizens and entrepreneurs in the Schengen area is great. He stated that it means "a completely new regime at the borders, passage without formalities, waiting and costs".

"Croatia is a tourist country with a considerable area on the Adriatic coast which is predominantly a car destination, and for such a country the Schengen area means a much simpler, easier arrival, and I am sure that this will be felt both in overnight stays and in arrivals, and then of course in income in the years to come,” he said.