EuroBillTracker

ART wrote:

Nice, they were allowed to get a greeting in correct Latvian (eiro), unlike Slovenia. I'm not sure about Malta, I can't find a larger picture

Lithuania on track to become Euro-member in 2015!

Basically right. But after what happened in 2006 (so close and yet ...), you won't hear much more than this "being on track" from the government unless and until there are OK signals from the ECB, the EP, EC and ultimately the Council.

Christian

The article I read referred to the Lithuanian budget being in order, therefore matching criteria to join the Eurozone.

Bring on those notes!

Mk1992 wrote:The article I read referred to the Lithuanian budget being in order, therefore matching criteria to join the Eurozone.

May well be so, and may even be that the inflation rate now meets the criteria. Back in March it was a little too high. I just believe that the Lithuanian government wants to be on the safe side this time. When it asked for a convergence report in 2006, the result was that - while all the other criteria were met - the inflation rate (average) was too high: 2.7 percent instead of 2.6 ...

Due to this 0.1 percent difference Lithuania could not get in back in 2007. That is why in my opinion will be more careful this time. In spring (May '14 or so) the EC and the ECB will publish their convergence reports, and then we will see. Would be great if it worked, but if not, the world does not come an end either.

Christian

The Minister of Finance of Lithuania reiterated that the goal is to enter EMU in 2015 and that the government intends to complete the negotiations by July.

Looks like things are going relatively well.

EU Lawmakers Back Lithuania’s Bid to Join Euro Currency in 2015

European lawmakers endorsed Lithuania’s bid to adopt the euro, with the ex-Soviet republic scheduled to become the 19th member of the single currency next year.

Approval by the European Parliament’s economic and monetary affairs committee in Brussels today means Lithuania remains on course for final consent in July to join the bloc on Jan. 1.

...

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-0 ... -2015.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's almost confirmed for Euro in Lithuania in 2015 At least everyone says that on our news:D
The Mint of Lithuania tarted making Euro coins with 2015 date already.

Cool, so I can really start planning a Baltic tour next year to collect the coins and some dots

evaldas1982 wrote:The Mint of Lithuania tarted making Euro coins with 2015 date already.

Those coins (well, a few ) you can already see at an exhibition in Kaunas, until the end of June. The Bank of Lithuania shows "The Vytis - From the Lithuanian Denar to the Euro" there, and that includes the newly made euro and cent pieces.

As for the entry being "almost confirmed", yes, I think so too. Due to what happened in 2006 (so close and yet so far ...), there would certainly have been "signals" in case of any problems with the convergence criteria this time. But in just a few days we will know it for sure: On Wednesday (4 June) the latest convergence reports will be presented.
(ECB) https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/weekly/ ... ex.en.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
(EC) http://europa.eu/newsroom/calendar/even ... uro_en.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Christian

And yes, the convergence reports sound good. In its reports, the ECB does an assessment of economic data, not really a yay or nay recommendation. Here is the press release: https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date ... 04.en.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The European Commission proposed today "that the EU Council of Ministers decide that Lithuania can adopt the euro on 1 January 2015. The Council will take the final decision on the matter in the second half of July, after EU Heads of State and Government have discussed the subject at the 26-27 June European Council, and after the European Parliament has given its opinion." http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP ... ?locale=en" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Christian

Welcome indeed! Guess that Lithuania will be the last country to become a euro area member state. Well, stability is probably more important than sheer growth. By the way, as the title of this topic does not "cover" Lithuania, we have another one here:
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=55562" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Christian