Croats are turning to the EU because they claim that the introduction of the euro caused the price of coffee to rise World | News
Croats are nervous after the introduction of the euro on January 1 this year, as consumers claim that the price of coffee has risen sharply as a result. The country replaced the kuna with the euro, 10 years after becoming the newest member of the EU. Now Croats are sure that coffee shops have inflated the prices of cappuccino, latte and espresso since the introduction of the euro.
Consumers claim retailers and service providers are taking advantage of the currency change, charging customers far more than in 2022. “It’s very confusing,” says one coffee drinker.
Vina, who spoke to the BBC with her two friends in Zagreb’s main square, said that the switch to the euro allowed sellers to make it seem like prices were falling, when the opposite was happening.
“It looks cheaper, but it’s actually very expensive. We just paid six euros for two coffees and a coke – I was shocked,” she said.
Another local Croatian, Živana, told the television company that she had experienced similar price increases. “All these price increases started in June,” she said.
“Now it’s in the spotlight and it’s even worse. We’re not happy with the government and the way they’ve handled the situation.” As a result of public dissatisfaction with the perceived increase in prices, the Croatian government saw the need to intervene.
Traders have been warned that unjustified price increases will not be tolerated. The government has an “arsenal of tools” to take measures against companies that profit from currency changes, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said.
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“We presented the prices in euros before the euro entered,” he said. “Now they say we are too expensive – but the price is the same as before the New Year.”
Croatia joined the eurozone this year, following the commitment it made in 2013 when it joined the EU. The Eastern European nation becomes the 20th country to adopt the single currency following a commitment it made a decade ago.
However, not all members who recently joined the bloc have fulfilled their promise to join the eurozone. Poland, Romania, Sweden and the Czech Republic have all committed to replacing their currency with the euro after joining the EU.
But none of these countries have given up their own money in favor of a 24-year-old single currency. Poles, Romanians, Swedes and Czechs will certainly be hoping not to pay through the nose if their government decides to switch to the euro.