Malta has been in the euro area since 1 January 2008, and today when Milanović met with his Maltese counterpart George Vella, he said that he believes that country can help Croatia with its experience.
“This is a country which has been inside for a long time, it has the experience and that experience is good,” said Milanović and added that the Maltese economy is “exposed to the services sector and in particular to tourism,” and has several common points with Croatia’s economy.
“Our economy, unfortunately, or luckily, or just as a point – is not exceptionally export-orientated. We are a service-based economy and that is one of the reasons why I think the euro would be better for Croatia than it would be worse,” said Milanović.
The president underscored that introducing the euro “isn’t pittance” and that “it seems we will relinquish our national currency forever.”
“That is not done with an excited heart, but with a sober head.”
Milanović asked Malta to support Croatia, as the youngest EU member state, and its accession to the Schengen Area and criticized the Union for “procrastination and delay.”
Romania and Bulgaria have been members of the EU since 2007 and are still waiting for a green light to access that area.
The time has already ripened for them to join the Schengen Area, however, political mainstream in the largest countries simply have a problem, which I understand, and that is the problem of right-wing voters hence they need “to tread on eggs cautiously,” as the saying goes, he said.
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