Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Friday passed a law on the adoption of the euro as legal tender, with 117 MPs voting in favour, 13 against and one abstaining. MPs rejected amendments by Bridge and the Green-Left Bloc and a conclusion by Bridge that the government had not endorsed.
The euro is expected to be introduced on 1 January 2023.
As of 5 September this year through 2023, prices would be displayed both in kuna and in euro.
Next year there will be no cost for exchanging kuna cash for euro, which will be done in banks, post offices, and the Financial Agency. Citizens will be able to exchange kuna bills for euro in the central bank indefinitely.
Bridge and Sovereignists against euro
Before today's vote, some of the opposition again spoke against introducing the euro.
Miro Bulj of Bridge said an estimate of the effects of the introduction should have been made, calling on parliament to repeal the law and saying that experts should state their opinion and the people decide in a referendum.
Marijan Pavliček of the Sovereignists said the party was concerned about how citizens would survive the month upon entering the eurozone and how pensioners and workers would live.
He said it was insane to enter the eurozone during the EU's biggest energy crisis, biggest economic uncertainty, and the biggest inflation in 20 years.
2022 budget revision included in agenda, debate next week
Parliament today added 14 items to the agenda, including a draft revision of this year's budget.
"We'll debate it next Wednesday," Speaker Gordan Jandroković said.