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

China reaffirms 8% growth

China's premier told the National People's Congress Thursday that the nation expects to achieve 8 percent economic growth this year. more »

Commission calls on EU leaders to stay united against the crisis

The European Commission is calling on EU leaders to further step up coordinated European action to fight the economic crisis. more »

In Geneva, car makers face crisis

Biggest auto bosses except some changes in the car market, but despite this optimism, many say this could be last large-scale car show for several years. more »

DnB NORD Bankas revises deposit rate for corporate customers

Taking into account changes in domestic money market AB DnB NORD Bankas, a member of international financial group, has changed corporate time deposit rates. more »

Cigarette tax at least €1.50 per pack from 2014

A gradual increase in minimum tax rates on cigarettes, to at least €1.50 per pack by 2014, and other tobacco products, was backed by the Economic Affairs Committee on Monday, but it advocated smaller increases than those proposed by the Commission. more »

Belgian postal workers strike

About 2,000 Belgian postal workers marched in the centre of Brussels to protest over plans to privatise and reorganise the Belgian postal sector. more »

Iceland, other Nordic states cast an eye towards EU

In October last year Iceland suffered the most severe economic crash of any country during peacetime. more »

ATM industry site says acquisitions in the ATM space on the rise

ATMPortfoliosForSale.com, a site dedicated to the buying and selling of ATM businesses and portfolios, is reporting a drastic increase in ATM portfolio acquisitions. more »

Egg donors rise as U.S economy falls

As the United States economy sinks further into recession fertility clinics have seen more women offering to donate their eggs for cash windfalls of up to 10,000 (USD). more »

Heading off the next credit crunch

A group of financial experts has put forward 18 detailed recommendations to strengthen supervision of the EU’s financial institutions and markets. more »