(ANSA) - ROMA, 27 DIC - As of Jan. 1, 2023, Croatia will be the 20th member country of the euro area. Bankitalia recalls this, pointing out that on July 12, the Council of the European Union approved Croatia's accession and set the conversion rate of the Croatian kuna (7.53450 kuna for 1 euro). Both the euro and the kuna (bills and coins), Bankitalia points out, can be used for payments during the two weeks from the introduction of the euro. As of January 15, euro bills and coins become the only ones to be legal tender. Prices of goods and services will be reported in both euros and kunas until Dec. 31, 2023. The Bank of Italy will carry out the "exchange at par value" of the Croatian kuna (7.53450 kuna for 1 euro) from January until February 28, 2023. The exchange of Croatian currency banknotes in favor of the general public will be carried out free of charge at the Branches in Ancona, Milan, Rome Headquarters, Trieste and Venice for a maximum amount, agreed in the Eurosystem, of 8,000 kuna (HRK), corresponding to the equivalent of about 1,000 euros for each transaction. Institutional users with an account with the Bank of Italy will be able to present banknotes in Croatian currency at the Rome Centro Donato Menichella Branch only for recognition of the corresponding countervalue. (ANSA).