Jansa: Euro Switch Biggest Natnl Achievement Since Joining EU

Brussels, 16 June

The EU's nod for Slovenia's euro switch on 1 January 2007 is historical, while entering the eurozone is the country's biggest achievement since joining the EU in May 2004, PM Janez Jansa said at the close of the EU summit in Brussels on Friday.

"Today is a great day", Jansa believes, because "with all the open issues faced by the EU, the decision to expand the eurozone to Slovenia is proof that the bloc is still continuing with its integration process."
We are happy with the green light for euro adoption as well as with the confirmation that the Slovenian economy is in good shape and that the country fulfills the demanding convergence criteria, the PM added.
Apart from leaders of all EU states, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso also congratulated Slovenia at a press conference after the close of the two-day summit.
The euro changeover is not just important for Slovenia, it is important for the whole of the bloc, as by including Slovenia, the EU has shown that the eurozone is open for all newcomers, said Barroso and Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, whose country currently presides over the EU.
Lithuania meanwhile warned that the currently valid euro changeover criteria do not take into account the fact that some new EU members, especially the Baltic states, have a slightly higher inflation, yet also record huge economic growth.
"Such a situation was not taken into account when setting euro changeover criteria," Jansa agreed, yet added that decisions to change such criteria were not passed at the summit.

Jansa: Euro Switch Biggest Natnl Achievement Since Joining EU

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