According to former ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet, Croatia’s entry into the euro on January 1 is a good signal. Trichet told the dpa news agency that he was very happy to have been able to welcome five new countries to the euro area during his time as ECB President. “From 12 to 17. Today we are 19 countries in the euro area. And we are becoming even more numerous. Europe is about to make history.” Croatia will be the 20th country to introduce the euro.
At the same time, joining the common currency means a great deal of responsibility for every candidate. “Joining the euro area is a very important step that will determine the fate of an entire country, of all its citizens, regardless of their political sensitivities,” said Trichet, President of the Eurozone from November 1, 2003 to October 31, 2011 European Central Bank was. “We have criteria for the enlargement of the eurozone. The criteria have to be met when a country joins, but I have always emphasized that they must also be met after accession.”