| Abstract | Zajednička europska valuta – euro usvojena je 1990-ih godina, nakon višedesetljetnog procesa stvaranja uvjeta za njezinu realizaciju. Valuta je puštena u fizički opticaj početkom 2002. godine, postavši tako zakonsko sredstvo plaćanja kod dvanaest država članica EU. Prema podacima Europske komisije, euro je danas službena valuta za oko 340 milijuna ljudi unutar europodručja. Taj broj obuhvaća 19 od 27 (trenutnih) država članica EU, što znači da će se i dalje povećavati, budući je usvajanje jedinstvene europske valute ugovorna obveza svih pripadnica europske zajednice. Put prema euru, odnosno zamjeni nacionalne valute za nj, ovisi o nizu unutarnjih ali i vanjskih okolnosti, sukladno čemu nije vremenski definirano kada bi se ta promjena trebala dogoditi. Novo pridošle članice tempiraju ovaj proces na svojstven način, te se po ocijeni spremnosti odlučuju za posljednji korak, a to je ulazak u Europski tečajni mehanizam, tj. ERM 2. Hrvatska je tečajnom mehanizmu ERM 2 pristupila 10. srpnja 2020. godine, te bi sada trebala barem dvije uzastopne godine poštivati njegove odrednice. Obzirom na to najoptimističniji (i željeni) razvoj situacije jest da Republika Hrvatska već početkom 2023. godine zamjeni kunu za euro. Očekivanja u vezi s ispunjenjem ove značajne prekretnice stoga su neizbježna, ali ne i u potpunosti pozitivna. Naime, s osvitom eura uslijedit će značajne promjene - neke s povoljnim, a neke s nepovoljnim učinkom. Imajući to u vidu, nadležna državna tijela su i prije ulaska Hrvatske u ERM 2, pristupila obuhvatnoj analizi te razvila tzv. Eurostrategiju. Ono što službena nacionalna strategija, ali i niz neovisnih elaboracija na raznolike aspekte zamjene kune za euro u konačnici ističu jest prevaga pozitivnih strana. Sukladno čemu, konstatira se da je uvođenje eura za Hrvatsku poželjan potez. Sveukupnom zaključku valja nadodati i da Hrvatska ima priliku učiti iz iskustava drugih članica EU, i tim putem ublažiti neke očekivane negativnosti uvođenja eura. |
| Abstract (english) | The common European currency - the euro - was adopted in the 1990s, after a decades-long process of creating the conditions for its realization. The currency was put into physical circulation in early 2002, becoming the legal tender in twelve EU member states. According to the European Commission, as of today, euro is the official currency for about 340 million people within the euro area. This number includes19 of the 27 (current) EU Member States, which means that it will continue to increase, as the adoption of the single European currency, is a contractual obligation for all members of the European Community. The path to the euro, i.e. the replacement of the national currency for it, depends on a number of internal and external circumstances. That being said, a time limit has not been set in place for when exactly this change should occur. The new members time the process of euro adaptation as they see fit, and after the assessment of their readiness decide upon the final step, which is to partake in the European Exchange Rate Mechanism, i.e. ERM 2. Croatia joined the ERM 2 exchange rate mechanism on July 10, 2020, and now has to adhere to its guidelines for at least two consecutive years. Given this, the most optimistic (and desired) turn of events is that the Republic of Croatia manages to exchange the kuna for the euro at the beginning of 2023. Expectations regarding the fulfilment of this significant milestone are therefore inevitable, but not entirely positive. Namely, with the rise of the euro, significant changes will ensue - some with a favourable and some with an unfavourable effect. With this in mind, the competent state bodies have approached a comprehensive analysis and developed the so-called Eurostrategy, even before Croatia's entry into ERM 2. What the official national strategy, but also a series of independent elaborations on various aspects of the exchange of the kuna for the euro, ultimately emphasize is the predominance of positive sides. Accordingly, it is stated that the introduction of the euro is a desirable move for Croatia. It should be added to the overall conclusion that Croatia has the opportunity to learn from the experiences of other EU members, and thus mitigate some of the expected negatives of euro adaptation. |
