President Zoran Milanovic said on Wednesday that Croatia would have more benefits than disadvantages from the euro adoption and that Malta could help Zagreb with its experience in the euro area.

Malta has been in the euro area since 1 January 2008, and on Wednesday, when Milanovic met with his Maltese counterpart George Vella, Milanovic said that he believes that country can help Croatia with its experience.

“This is a country which has been in the euro zone for a long time, it has the experience and that experience is good,” said Milanovic 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,” said Milanovic.

The president added that introducing the euro “isn’t pittance” and that “it seems we will relinquish our national currency forever.”

“A step like that is not made suddenly, but with a sober head,” he said.

Milanovic asked Malta to support Croatia, as the youngest EU member state, and its accession to the Schengen Area.

He also criticised the European Union for “procrastination and delay.”

Romania and Bulgaria have been members of the EU since 2007 and are still waiting for a greenlight to access the Schengen Area.

The time has already come for them to join the Schengen Area, Milanovic said, adding that the major political players in the largest EU countries have a problem with dealing with right-wing voters. He said he understood the issue and the tightrope the mainstream political parties were walking in that regard.