Currency represents a unit of exchange that was formed to facilitate the flow of goods and services. There are different geographical areas in the world that use the same currency. The euro is the common currency of all member states of the euro area. It was officially created in 1999. At the very beginning of its formation, the euro existed only as an electronic currency. The implementation of euro coins and euro banknotes into circulation in the countries that introduced the euro occurs three years after the creation of the euro. Therefore, in 2002, twelve member states of the European Union used the euro as their official, national, currency. The idea of the European Union is to maintain peace, common trade, freedom of movement and the creation of a common, competitive market. With its expansion and the joining of other European countries, the European Union strengthened its competitiveness on the world market. One of the ways to increase the competitiveness and development of both individual countries and the European Union is the introduction of a common currency. With the accession of a member state of the European Union to the euro area, the state removes certain risks that can threaten and weaken its economy. With the entry of a particular country into the European Union, there is an obligation to introduce the euro, that is, to join the euro area. The subject of this paper is the analysis of the introduction of the euro in the Republic of Croatia with an emphasis on the activities for which the Croatian National Bank is responsible as the central bank of the Republic of Croatia. The goal is to explain the entire process of the accession of an individual country to the euro area as a current topic that the Republic of Croatia is currently facing.