Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference

Posted date: 03 Jan 2023

Prime Minister, dear Andrej,

Madam President, dear Nataša,

First of all, Happy New Year to the two of you and to everybody here around us. I am delighted to be here, with you, today. It is a day to celebrate. It is the season of new beginnings, 1 January, new chapters that are being opened. And there is no place in Europe where this is more true today, that it is a season of new beginnings and new chapters, than here at the border between Croatia and Slovenia. Today, Croatia joins the Schengen area and the Eurozone. Two immense achievements for the youngest Member State of the European Union, and both reached on the very same day. So indeed, this is a day for the history books.

But above all, this is a day of joy and pride for the Croatian people. It is testimony of your amazing journey, your hard work and your determination. It is a day of celebration not only for Croatians, but for all European citizens. From now on, internal borders can be crossed freely, without controls, like here at Bregana. And all the other crossing points at land with Slovenia and Hungary, at sea with Italy, and as of March, by air with all other Schengen States. No more checks, no more passport control, no more queues, just people crossing smoothly, as we can see right behind us. Tourists visiting Croatia will no longer need a separate visa. They can visit with the same Schengen visa as they use to travel to all other Schengen countries. The next generation of Croatians will grow up in Schengen. People will be able to travel freely, business will be unhindered by checks. Seamless travel will bring tangible results for people living along the border, working across the border, or having family on both sides of the border. Communities will grow closer together. And your presence here today, Madam President, clearly shows how important this day is, not just for Croatia, but also for all its neighbours.

Reference: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/STATEMENT_23_7947

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GSP Admin