DOI: 10.36347/sjahss.2023.v11i09.001

Pages: 240-246

The paper re-evaluates the traffic-geographical position of the Republic of Croatia after joining the EU and the Schengen area. Croatian strength is in the fact that it can connect several regions within Europe and that it functions as a link between Western Europe and the Western Balkans and Central Europe and the Mediterranean, however, its political-geographical and transport position can and should be further strengthened, as never before in its difficult and long history. Despite the pressures of malicious neighbors and internal opponents of European values, the Republic of Croatia entered the Schengen Area on January 1, 2023. Before that, it entered the European Union, and Croatian borders became the borders for entering Germany, Italy or France. Croatia's neighbors from the EU can no longer unilaterally block the flow of goods and services in the north-south direction, which is of vital importance for the strategic revaluation of Croatia's geotraffic position. The Adriatic-Ionian transport route is also important for the complete Croatian transport revaluation. The paper also analyzes the historical geopolitical position that influenced the Croatian transport policy.