Lithuania, Slovenia and Estonia Move Towards Euro

Published: 29 June 2004 y., Tuesday
Estonia, Lithuania and Slovenia on Sunday became the first EU newcomers to join the "exchange-rate mechanism" (ERM-2), paving the way for them to join the euro as early as 2007. The decision was taken at a highly secretive meeting in Brussels involving officials from the 12 euro zone countries, the European Central Bank, Denmark, and the three countries that had applied for ERM-2 entry, according to the Baltic News Service. ERM-2 is often referred to as the "holding bay" for the euro. Countries wishing to join the euro must participate in ERM-2 for a minimum of two years. During these two years, the mechanism aims to ensure a stable exchange rate between the euro and the currency of the prospective euro member since currencies in ERM-2 are not allowed to fluctuate by more than 15 percent against the euro. But before joining the euro, the applicant country must fulfil other criteria, such as maintaining low inflation and a low budget deficit.
Šaltinis: EUobserver.com
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.

Facebook Comments

New comment


Captcha

Associated articles

The most popular articles

Parex Bankas is to refinance LTL 19.5 million for small and medium-sized enterprises

Parex Bankas won the tender organised by UAB Investicijų ir Verslo Garantijos regarding the financing of very small, small and medium-sized enterprises, and is to lend LTL 100 million together with other three selected banks. more »

Commission approves aid package for German bank WestLB

The European Commission has approved, under EC Treaty state aid rules, the €5 billion risk shield for German bank WestLB and accompanying measures, following an in-depth investigation opened in October 2008. more »

Capital Requirements Directive - rapporteur Karas interviewed

MEPs have backed new rules to rebuild trust in Europe's battered banks through better financial supervision and risk management. more »

AB Bank SNORAS changes the interest rates on time deposits

Taking into consideration the tendencies in the market, starting from 11 May this year AB Bank SNORAS will change the interest rates on time deposits in Litas, Euro, Great Britain pounds and USA dollars. more »

VW, Porsche in merger talks

Now VW and Porsche who are looking into a merger. more »

Small business, big ideas

First European SME week supports small businesses and encourages entrepreneurship. more »

Twist of fate: $120,000 found at ATM

Officials at an El Paso bank said $120,000 found at an ATM doesn't belong to the bank. more »

MEPs adopt strict conditions for the placing on the market of seal products in the European Union

The placing on the market of seal products should not be allowed say MEPs. It is permitted only where the seal products result from hunts traditionally conducted by Inuit and other indigenous communities. more »

Obama's corporate tax crackdown

President Barack Obama is calling on Congress to overhaul tax policies that he said reward companies for shifting U.S. jobs overseas and allow wealthy people to evade taxes using offshore accounts. more »

Animals used in science, seal ban debated Monday

MEPs will discuss the protection of animals used for science Monday evening along with a proposal to ban the trade in seal products. more »