EN    EN EN 
EN    EN  EUROPEAN COMMISSION 
Brussels, 27.7.2010 
SEC(2010) 942 final 
COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT 
Accompanying document to the  
COMMUNICATION FROM TH E EUROPEAN COMMISSION  TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK THE 
EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL  COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE 
OF THE REGIONS 
Tenth Report on the practical preparations for the future enlargement of the euro area 
  
{COM(2010) 398 final} 
EN 2   EN COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT 
Accompanying document to the  
COMMUNICATION FROM TH E EUROPEAN COMMISSION  TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK THE 
EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL  COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE 
OF THE REGIONS 
  
Tenth Report on the practical preparations for the future enlargement of the euro area 
 
 
1. 
INTRODUCTION  
This Commission Staff Working Document accomp anies the 'Tenth Report on the practical 
preparations for the future enla rgement of the euro area'. While the Report deals mainly with 
the changeover preparations in Estonia which will introduce the euro on 1 January 2011, the Working Document provides information on the state of practical pr eparations for the 
changeover in other EU Member States  which have yet to adopt the euro
1. It summarises the 
situation in each Member State concerned a nd provides on overview on how the countries 
respect the provisions of th e 'Commission Recommendation of  10 January 2008 on measures 
to facilitate future changeovers to the euro (2008/78/EC)' built on th e experience acquired in 
the course of the introduc tion of euro cash in 2002-200 8. The Annex gives a synoptic 
overview of the state of the national changeover preparations.  
2. PREPARATIONS AT NATIONAL LEVEL  
2.1. Bulgaria 
In Bulgaria a changeover target date has not been  set yet and the practical preparations for the 
introduction of the euro have not been launched.  
2.2. Czech Republic 
The Czech Republic does not have a specific ta rget date for the introduction of the euro.  
The April 2010 Progress Report on the fulfilment of the 'National Changeover Plan' assesses 
the progress in the practical preparations achie ved in the course of 2009. In this period, the 
strategy for the adaptation of the public admini stration to the euro was elaborated by the 
Public Administration Sub-Group of the Nati onal Coordination Group for Euro Adoption in 
                                                 
1 Nine previous reports on this subject were published between November 2004 and December 2009. 
See: COM(2004)748 of 10 November 2004; COM(2005)545 of 4 November 2005; COM(2006)322 of 22 June 2006; COM(2006)671 of 10 November 2006; COM(2007)434 of 16 July 2007; 
COM(2007)756 of 27 November 2007, COM(2008)480 of 18 July 2008, COM(2008) 843 final of  12 
December 2008, COM(200 9) 692 of 21 December 2009 
EN 3   EN cooperation with the Sub-Groups in charge of le gislation and IT systems adaptation. It should 
be elaborated further in the course of 2010. Th e first draft of the Communication Strategy was 
finalized in December 2009. It defines the basi c principles, communication tools, target 
groups and sequences of the campaign. In 2010, the draft will be complemented with the 
contingency plan. The guidelines for the changeover in the financial sector have been updated 
based on the experience collected in the previ ous changeovers, in particular in Slovakia. 
Following the adoption of the basic principles  for the adaptation of the Czech Republic's 
legislation to the euro by the government in March 2009, the Sub-Group responsible for the 
adaptation of legislati on started developing the methodology for drawing the lists of legal acts 
requiring adjustments. One of the main prior ities for 2010 is to draft guidelines for the 
preparations of local administrations to the eu ro. The document should cover the adaptation of 
legal texts, financial amounts, fees, IT systems and the distribution of information by the local 
authorities. It would also provide an example of the organisation structure for the changeover 
preparations at local level based on the expe rience of Slovakia and other euro-area Member 
States. The National Coordinati on Group also plans to launch work on the general guidelines 
for the conversion of IT systems.  
The national changeover website (www.zavedenieura.cz ) displays all euro-related 
government documents and the documents pr oduced by the National Coordination Group for 
Euro Adoption and its Working Groups. It explai ns euro-related voca bulary to the general 
public, provides the number of the free euro-info line and the timetable of euro related events. 
The Czech authorities are preparing, with s upport of the European Commission, a twinning 
project between the Slovak, French and Czech experts on euro communication.  
2.3. Latvia 
Based on the Latvian Convergence Progra mme 2009-2012 and the Stabilisation and 
Economic Growth Restoration Programme, the La tvian government set 1 January 2014 as the 
target date for the introduction of the euro2.  
The Public Awareness and Communication Work ing Group has completed an update of the 
Euro Communication Strategy and developed the corresponding communication plan. Both 
documents were discussed during the twinning  project with the National Bank of Belgium 
(ended at the end of 2009) and supported by the European Commission. The national 
changeover web site (www.eiro.l v), launched in December 2008, remains the main source of 
information for the general public.  
2.4. Lithuania 
The National Changeover Plan was approve d by the government in September 2005 and 
updated in April 2007. Lithuania has not  set a changeover target date.  
The third update of the 'National Changeover Plan' should be adopted by the end of 2010. It 
should incorporate the provisions of the Comm ission Recommendation of 10 January 2008 on 
measures to facilitate the future changeovers to the euro3.  
The third update of the Public  information and comm unication strategy on the adoption of the 
euro, based on the results of the recent public opinion polls is under preparation. The national 
                                                 
2 The mid-term forecasts indicate that the countr y could meet the Maastr icht criteria in 2012. 
3 Commission Recommendation 2008/78/EC of 10 January 2008 on measures to facilitate the future 
changeovers to the euro, OJ L23 of 26 January 2008, p.30-32  
EN 4   EN changeover website provides up-to-date inform ation on the euro and the EMU. The European 
Commission and the Lithuanian authorities have  further developed their cooperation under the 
Partnership Agreement and prepared jointly a number of communication activities (e.g. a euro 
exhibition in the city of Kaunas in November 2009-January 2010).  
2.5. Hungary 
In 2009, the bodies in charge of the changeover preparations in Hungary focused on updating 
the National Changeover Plan, involving additional experts in the preparations and disseminating euro related information. 
The first version of the Hungarian Nationa l Changeover Plan adopted in July 2008 was 
updated by seven Sub-Committees of the Na tional Euro Coordination Committee and 
approved by the Government at the end of 2009. Various public and private sector 
organisations (e.g. chambers of commerce, pr ofessional associations , consumer protection 
organisations, employers and employees organi sations) were involved in the work of the 
National Euro Coordination Committee. 
The updated Changeover Plan outlines the steps to take in the areas of practical preparations 
for the euro which can be developed in the ab sence of the changeover target date. The most 
important issues addressed in the new version of the Plan include: a pilot project in the area of 
changeover preparations of public institutions, mapping and categorisation of potential risks involved in the conversion of public institutions' IT systems and assessment of challenges 
stemming from the conversion of wages in the public sector. The Government decided that 
any hardware purchased from public resources an d all cash registers and taximeters sold after 
1 June 2010 must be euro-compatible.  
With regard to the ad aptation of the Hungarian  legal system to the euro, a concept of the 
umbrella law has been developed and legal text s have been divided into groups based on the 
difficulty of converting fori nt amounts to the euro.  
Hungary launched a twinning programme on pract ical preparations with French and Slovak 
experts at the beginning of 2010. The programme  covers numerous areas of the changeover 
preparations, such as public and business sect or preparations, cash changeover preparations, 
communication and preparations of vulnerable groups. The project consisting of four study 
visits and four expert missions in the course of 2010 raised attention both within and outside 
the bodies which were already involved in the changeover and thus made an important 
contribution to widening and deepening the general awarene ss of the changeover related 
topics. 
2.6. Poland 
Poland would like to join the euro-area as s oon as possible after fulf illing the entry conditions
. 
The decision with regard to the steering bodies  of the changeover preparations in Poland was 
officially adopted on 3 November 2009. It is composed of the National Coordination 
Committee for Euro Changeover, the Coordi nating Council and eight Working Committees. 
During the first meetings, the new bodies ag reed on detailed schedule of the Working 
Committees' meetings and draft list of tasks to be completed by each Committee before and during 6-months after €-day. In 2010, they plan to analyse the experience collected in the 
countries which have adopted the euro, assess th e scope of the necessary  adjustments in all 
EN 5   EN sectors of the Polish economy and start preparin g the national changeover plan which is due 
to be completed next year.  
The activities of the bodies i nvolved in the changeover prep arations are published on the 
website of the Government Plenipotentiary for the Euro Adoption  (www.euro.mf.gov.pl ). The 
office of the Plenipotentiary publishes regularly analytical documents on the fulfilment of the 
nominal convergence criteria, th e state of real conve rgence, public opin ion on the introduction 
of the euro, practical preparations for the cha ngeover and potential costs and benefits of the 
introduction of the single currency in Poland.  
The office of the Government Plenipotentiary in cooperation with the National Coordination 
Committee, the Coordinating Council and the Wo rking Committees prepared the Guidelines 
for the Preparation of the Nati onal Changeover Plan. It contains , among others, the guidelines 
of the communication strategy on the euro and a general timetable of th e preparatory works. 
The document will be published after being approved by the Council of Ministers. The 
national communication strategy is going to be prepar ed by the responsible Working 
Committee according to the timetable specified in the Guidelines. 
The National Bank of Poland (NBP ) is regularly anal ysing the macroecono mic aspects of the 
integration with the euro area and carrying out works s upporting the planning of the 
changeover. The NBP regularly communicates on the practical aspects and consequences of 
the introduction of the euro in newspapers, TV  and radio programs and on the internet. The 
NBP co-finances a newly created postgradua te study programme of  the leading Polish 
universities on the functi oning of the euro area. 
2.7. Romania 
Romania aims at introducing the euro on 1 January 2015. In the opi nion of the Romanian 
authorities, having a changeover target date is an  important anchor in promoting the necessary 
budgetary and structural reforms.  
In absence of the national coordinating body fo r the changeover prepar ations, the National 
Bank of Romania (NBR) set up the Euro Adopti on Committee chaired by the Governor at the 
end of 2009. At this stage, the Committee remains an internal forum for discussion on the euro and EMU.  
The NBR is actively involved in raising awaren ess of the general public  and specific target 
groups (e.g. financial sector, academia) with regard to the fulfillment of the convergence 
criteria and the introduction of the euro. The au thorities are using a va riety of publications, 
including the information material provided by the European Commission . 
2.8. Sweden 
Sweden has no target date for adopting the euro. The preparati ons were stalled by the negative 
outcome of the referendum of 14 September 2003.  
3. P
ROTECTION OF THE EURO AGAINST COUNTERFEITING  
Concerning the protection of the euro against co unterfeiting, all countries have established the 
national authorities as required by article 2 of the Regulation 2001/1338/EC; their 
EN 6   EN representatives participate in the meetings of th e expert groups and have received appropriate 
training.  
4. RESPECTING THE PROVISIONS OF THE COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION ON 
MEASURES TO FACILITATE FUTURE CHANGEOVERS TO THE EURO  
This section provides an overview on how th e countries meet the provisions of the 
Commission Recommendation of 10 January 2008 on measures to facilitate future 
changeovers to the euro (2008/78/EC). It is base d solely on publicly available information as 
of June 2010 and therefore may not reflect all preparations which are under way.  
 BG CZ LV LT HU PL RO SE 
Article 1: Steering and organisation  
Set up of appropriate national 
coordination structures  X X X X X   
National changeover plan:  1. Prepared 
2. Discussed with economic 
operators 
3. Regularly updated   X 
 
X X 
X X X 
X X X 
X X    
Article 2: Facilitating preparation of citizens  
Dual display of prices should be 
imposed by the national law  X X X X    
Min.6 months long dual display before €-day planned  X   X    
Max 1 year long compulsory dual display after €-day planned  X X  X    
Any charges for accepting €-payments imposed by businesses before €-day should be displayed separately         
Legal ban on using a rate other than the official conversion rate  X X X X    
Plans to inform citizens about security features of euro cash         
Special information programmes 
for vulnerable groups planned  X X X X    
Training sessions for personnel 
working with cash/in direct contact 
with public envisaged: 
1. By public administration 2. By businesses    
 
X      
Plans for the provision of 
information to SMEs by: 1.Public administration bodies  2.Professional associations, 
chambers of commerce, 
business advisors   
 
X       
EN 7   EN  BG CZ LV LT HU PL RO SE 
Plans for the provision of 
information by credit institutions to their customers          
Plans to monitor progress in preparations by means of surveys  X X X X    
Article 3: Ensuring a quick introduction of euro cash  
Planned dishoarding campaign 
aimed at citizens   X  X     
1. Frontloading 2. Sub-frontloading schedules put in place         
Euro coin kits for retailers    X       
Plans for financially attractive deferred debiting     X     
Mini coin kits for citizens: 1. Production envisaged 2. At least 1 kit per household   X      
ATMs should be adapted as of €-
day  X X X     
Plans for temporary closure of 
ATMs that cannot be adapted for 
technical reasons         
Giving of change in € only as of €-
day   X X X X    
Plans for ad-hoc measures due to 
increased cash volume in sales 
outlets         
POS terminals should be switched 
to euro as of €-day   X X X X    
Consumers will be encouraged to use electronic payment means    X X     
Plans for extra opening days in credit institutions around €-day          
Plans for extended opening hours in credit institutions around €-day         
Article 4: Prevention of abusive practice s and wrong perceptions on price evolutions  
Planned agreements on neutral 
impact of changeover on prices (e.g. Fair Pricing agreement)  X X X X    
Planned logo to identify the 
subscribers of the Fair Pricing 
agreement   X X X    
Planned advertisement for the Fair 
Pricing agreement logo         
Close monitoring of compliance 
with commitments by subscribers 
planned     X    
Planned dissuasive measures for 
non-compliance with the Fair         
EN 8   EN  BG CZ LV LT HU PL RO SE 
Pricing agreement 
 
 BG CZ LV LT HU PL RO SE 
Planned monitoring of prices from 
the adoption of conversion rate until the end of dual display   X X X    
Regular publication of information 
on evolution of prices around €-
day    X     
Alignment of bank charges for 
payments in € with those 
applicable to payments in national currency before €-day         
EN 9   EN ANNEX  
 
 Bulgaria Czech Republic 
Changeover 
organisation   
National target date for 
euro adoption  According to the Common Agreement between the 
Cabinet of Ministers and th e Bulgarian National Bank 
signed in 2004, the euro should be introduced ‘as soon as 
possible’, after the Maastricht criteria are met.  The preliminary target date (1 January 2010) was 
withdrawn by the Government on 25 October 2006. The 
Czech Republic’s updated 'Euro-area Accession 
Strategy' approved by the Czech Government on 29 
August 2007 does not set any target date. 
National co-ordinating institution  The National Co-ordination Group (NCG) held its first 
meeting on 20 February 2006. Six Working Groups 
(WGs) were established for di fferent areas of practical 
preparations. The work of the NCG and WGs is 
organised by the NCG's Managing Committee. On 28 
March 2007, a new National Co-ordinator for Euro 
Adoption was appointed by the Government. 
(Approved) National 
Changeover Plan A Common Agreement on euro adoption was signed 
between the Government and the Bulgarian National 
Bank in 2004. It provides for the broad framework and 
the main principles of euro introduction in Bulgaria.  
http://www.bnb.bg/bnbweb/gro ups/public/documents/bn
b_law/agreements_bnb-cm_bg.pdf   
The European Affairs and Policies Directorate of the 
Ministry of Finance launched a project with a view to 
elaborating a National Changeover Plan for Bulgaria. 
The duration of the project is fixed to 18 months.  The Czech Republic’s Euro  Accession Strategy was 
approved by the Government in October 2003:  
http://www.cnb.cz/www.cnb.cz /en/monetary_policy/stra
tegic_documents/download/ en_eurostrategie_09_2003.p
df 
An updated version was approved by the Czech 
government in August 2007: 
http://www.cnb.cz/www.cnb.cz /en/monetary_policy/stra
tegic_documents/downl oad/eurostrategy_070829.pdf  
The National Changeover Plan was approved by the 
Czech Government on 11 April 2007. It was published 
in hardcopy, in both English and Czech versions.  
http://www.zavedenieura.cz/ cps/rde/xbcr/euro/NP_EN_
06-08-07.pdf   
The First Progress Report to the National Changeover 
Plan was approved by the Czech Government on 9 April 
2008: 
http://www.zavedenieura.cz/cps/rde/xchg/euro/xsl/doku
menty_vladni_material_779.html 
The Second Progress Report was approved on 30 March 
2009: 
http://www.zavedenieura.cz/cps/rde/xchg/euro/xsl/doku
menty_vladni_material_779.html   
The Third Progress Report was adopted on 19 April 
2010: 
http://www.zavedenieura.cz/cps/rde/xchg/euro/xsl/doku
menty_vladni_material_779.html 
 
EN 10   EN  Bulgaria Czech Republic 
Changeover details   
Type of scenario  "Big bang". 
On 30 June 2006 the National Co-ordination Group 
recommended the Government to use the "big bang" 
scenario. The Recommendation was approved by the 
Government on 25 October 2006. 
http://www.zavedenieura.cz/ cps/rde/xbcr/euro/Scenar_z
avedeni_eura_CR.pdf   
Dual circulation period  2 weeks starting from €-day 
Exchange of national 
banknotes and coins  The Czech National Bank, co mmercial banks and other 
selected entities will exchange Czech korunas for the 
euro for at least 6 months af ter €-day. Subsequently, the 
legacy currency will only be exchanged at the Czech 
National Bank. The maximu m length of the banknote 
exchange period is to be decided, while the coins will be 
exchangeable for a period of 5 years. 
Campaign for rapid withdrawal of national 
banknotes and coins   
Frontloading and sub-
frontloading  The frontloading of banks will start 3 months ahead of 
€-day and sub-frontloading of the non-financial sector 
will start one month before €-day. 
ATMs issuing euro only   
Change in euro only  yes 
Dual display of prices  The mandatory dual display of prices will be introduced 
within one month after the a nnouncement of the official 
conversion rate and will con tinue for 12 months after 
the changeover date. 
The first version of the Recommendation on the dual 
display of prices was elaborated in 2009: 
http://www.zavedenieura.cz/ cps/rde/xbcr/euro/Doporuc
ene_postupy_dualni_oznacovani_cen__pdf.pdf   
Consumer confidence 
building measures (e.g. 
voluntary Fair Pricing 
Agreements)  A voluntary agreement with retailers (fair-pricing 
agreement) and a 'memorandum  of understanding', to be 
signed by retail and services sector and consumer 
protection associations. Th ese measures should be 
launched no later than one month after the 
announcement of the conversion rate.  
The basic principles of the price monitoring and control 
were elaborated by the Information Technology and 
Statistics WG in November 2009: 
http://www.zavedenieura.cz/cps/rde/xchg/euro/xsl/doku
menty_metodiky.html   
 
EN 11   EN  Bulgaria Czech Republic 
Adaptation of national 
law  The necessary adaptations of national law have been 
analysed by the Legislation Working Group of the 
National Coordination Group. On l March 2009 the 
Government decided to adopt an 'indirect' approach to 
adaptations of legal system, combined with individual 
adjustments of legal texts,  if necessary. A general 
timetable of legal adjustments was elaborated with a 
view to introducing the euro.  
http://www.zavedenie ura.cz/cps/rde/xbc r/euro/Priprava_
pravniho_prostredi_na_zavedeni_eura_pdf.pdf   
Euro banknotes and coins   
Design of the national 
side 
   
Number of different 
coin designs   
Coin supplier  Suppliers would be chosen vi a a public call for tender.  
Estimate of the need for 
banknotes and coins   
Communication activities   
Communication 
strategy  A draft version was prepared in September 2009 by the 
Communication Working Group.  
Activities  The leaflet “Preparations of the Czech Republic for the 
adoption of the euro” was printed and distributed country-wide in June 2007. 
The conference “The euro – our future currency” was 
held in October 2007 in Prague. 
Addresses of websites 
on euro changeover: 
  Government EU information department: 
http://www.euroskop.cz/euro  
Ministry of Finance: 
http:// www.mfcr.cz/euro  
National changeover website (in Czech and English): 
http:// www.zavedenieura.cz   
Czech National Bank:  
http://www.cnb.cz/en/intern ational_relations/euro/   
Ministry of Industry and Trade:  
http://www.mpo.cz/cz/eu-a-vni trni-trh/euro-pristoupeni-
cr-k-eurozone/default.html  
EN 12   EN  Bulgaria Czech Republic 
Partnership agreement   
Other issues  The guidelines on rounding and smoothing of prices 
prepared by the NCG Management Committee in 
October 2007: 
The estimate of budgetary costs of smoothing in the 
public sector published in March 2008: 
The guidelines for the preparations of the banking sector 
for the introduction of euro prepared by the Financial 
Sector WG in 2008 and updated in 2009. 
Can be all found at: 
http://www.zavedenieura.cz/cps/rde/xchg/euro/xsl/doku
menty_metodiky.html  
International Conference “Ten years of the Euro 
Inspirations for the Czech Republic” held in Prague in 
November 2008: 
http://www.zavedenieura.cz/cps/rde/xchg/euro/xsl/publi
kace_seminare_956.html   
 
ERM II entry   
Twinning agreement  The twinning project between the National Bank of 
Belgium, the Czech Ministry of Finance and the Czech 
National Bank started in September 2007 and ended 
successfully in September 2008.  
A new twinning project between the French authorities, 
the Czech Ministry of Finance and the National Bank of 
Slovakia is under preparation  
EN 13   EN  Latvia Lithuania 
Changeover 
organisation   
National target date for euro 
adoption  1 January 2014 The specific target date has not been set, but the 
Government aims to join the euro area at the earliest 
possible date.  
National co-ordinating institution Steering Committee for the preparation and co-
ordination of the euro introduction established on 18 
July 2005. Commission for the Co-ordination of the Adoption 
of the Euro in Lithuania, established on 30 May 
2005. 
(Approved) National 
Changeover Plan  The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia 
approved the 'Action Plan for the Introduction of the 
Single European Currency' on 1 November 2005 
and the first version of Latvia's National Euro 
Changeover Plan on 28 February 2006. The updates 
of the two documents were approved on 25 
September 2007 and 16 March 2010. 
http://www.eiro.lv/fa ili/struktura/18C173573731001
276081552.pdf. 
 The second version of the National Changeover 
Plan was approved by the government on 25 April 
2007:  
http://www3.lrs.lt/pls/int er3/dokpaieska.showdoc_l?
p_id=311387 
The third version of the National Changeover Plan 
is currently under preparation.  
Changeover details    
Type of scenario "Big-bang" 
 "Big-bang" 
Dual circulation period  One month 15 days 
Exchange of national 
banknotes and coins Commercial banks, currency exchange offices and 
post offices for 6 months af ter €-day free of charge; 
the Bank of Latvia without time limit free of charge.Commercial banks: free of charge during 60 days 
after €-day. Central bank: free of charge for an 
unlimited period. 
Campaign for rapid 
withdrawal of national 
banknotes and coins Not envisaged because of the high nominal value of 
coins in Latvia and their intensive use for day-to-
day payments. Consumers will be encouraged to deposit cash with 
banks before €-day. 
Frontloading and sub-
frontloading The frontloading of banks should start one month 
before €- day (1 December), sub-frontloading two 
weeks before €-day (15 December). Frontloaded 
and sub-frontloaded euro banknotes and coins may 
not be publicly circulated before €-day. The frontloading of euro banknotes to commercial 
banks one month before €-day at the latest and of 
euro coins three months before €-day at the latest. 
Sub-frontloading of euro banknotes and coins to 
retailers during the last month before €-day. 
ATMs issuing euro only  As from €- day ATMs should dispense euro 
banknotes only. As from €-day ATMs will dispense only euro 
banknotes. 
Change in euro only After the end of the dual circulation period.  Recommendation to give change in euro only. 
Dual display of prices Compulsory for three months before €-day until one 
year after €- day. Compulsory: 120 calendar days before €-day and 
120 days after €-day; voluntary: recommendation to 
use dual display as early as possible after decision 
on the official conversion rate. 
EN 14   EN  Latvia Lithuania 
Consumer confidence 
building measures (e.g. 
agreements with retailers) Monitoring of price developments in the retail 
sector, verification of the accuracy of dual price 
displays and 'fair pricing'' campaign envisaged. Business organisations will be encouraged to adopt 
a “Code of Good Business Practice” (correct 
conversion, no speculative price increases etc.); 
subscribers will be authorised to use a logo of the 
Code. 
Adaptation of national law All existing legal acts that need to be adapted with a 
view to adopting the euro had been identified by 
January 2006. An update on legislation and 
regulations that need to be amended will be 
prepared in 2012.  
The concept for adjusting the laws and regulations 
with regard to introducing the euro was drafted; it should be approved by the Cabinet of Ministers 
before 31 December 2011. A Law on the Adoption of the euro has been 
prepared (contains the rules on conversion and 
exchange of litas to the euro, withdrawal of litas 
from circulation, dual displa y of prices, presentation 
of designs of euro banknotes and Lithuanian euro 
coins, redenomination of securities etc.). The law 
will be officially adopted once the decision to lift the derogation is taken.  
All existing legal acts that need to be adapted with a 
view to adopting the euro had been identified by 
December 2005.  
Euro banknotes and coins    
Design of the national side  Approved 
Nr of different coin designs Three designs Three designs 
Coin supplier Coins will be minted abroad following a call for 
tender. Lithuanian Mint 
Estimation on the need for 
banknotes and coins 87 million banknotes and 300 million coins. 118 million banknotes and 290 million coins. 
Communication activities   
Communication strategy The 'Communication strategy for the euro 
changeover in Latvia' was approved on 12 April 
2006 and updated in November 2009. 
The communication campaign will be split into 3 
phases: 
1. Phase or preparatory period - 24 months before €-
day to six months before €-day; 
2. Phase or intensive peri od - six months before €-
day to one month after €-day; 
3. Phase or final period - one month after €-day to 
12 months after €-day. 
http://www.eiro.lv/faili/struktura/8A861112387600
1259158466.pdf The “Public information and communication 
strategy on the adoption of the euro of Lithuania” 
was approved by the Gove rnment on 29 September 
2005.  The second version was approved by the 
government on 25 April 2007 and published on the 
web:  
http://www3.lrs.lt/pls/int er3/dokpaieska.showdoc_l?
p_id=311387 
The third version of the “Public information and 
communication strategy” is currently under 
preparation.  
EN 15   EN  Latvia Lithuania 
Addresses of websites on 
euro changeover: 
Government/Ministry of 
Finance;  
Central Bank The euro changeover website: www.eiro.lv  
launched in December 2008.  
Up-to-date information on the euro changeover 
preparations is available on the website of the 
Ministry of Finance: 
(http://www.fm.gov.lv/page.php?id=105 ) and Bank 
of Latvia (http://www.ba nk.lv/eng/main/euro/). 
 
 The national euro website ( www.euro.lt ). 
Regularly updated websites of the Bank of 
Lithuania ( www.lb.lt ) and of the Ministry of 
Finance ( www.finmin.lt ). 
Partnership agreement  
 Signed on 8 November 2005. Prolongation signed 
on 5 February 2008. 
Other issues    
ERM II entry 2 May 2005 28 June 2004 
Twinning agreement Twinning project between BE and LV ended in 
2009. 
 Three Twinning agreements completed: 
NL – SI – LT on communication and information 
strategy;  
BE – LT on tax-related questions;  
BE – LT on departmental ma nagement related to the 
changeover. 
EN 16   EN  Hungary Poland 
Changeover organisation  
National target date for 
euro adoption  Not decided. As soon as possible af ter fulfilling the entry conditions. 
National co-ordinating 
institution The government decided on 12 September 2007 to set up 
the National Euro Coordination Committee. The key task 
of the Committee is to co-ordinate the practical 
preparations for the changeover.  
The NECC is composed of high level representatives of 
Ministries and central Governmental Institutions 
responsible for the first phase of the practical 
preparation. Since the structure of the Government and 
Ministries changed as of 29 May 2010, the composition 
of the NECC is going to be adjustedThe Committee shall 
report annually on its activities and the progress made in 
technical preparations for the changeover to the 
government and to the competent committees of the 
Parliament The Government Plenipotentiary for the Euro Adoption 
in Poland was appointed in January 2009. 
In November 2009 the organizational structure for euro 
adoption was officially set up. The structure comprises 
the National Coordination Committee for Euro 
Changeover, Coordinating Council, as well as eight 
Working Committees. The Committee and the Council 
are chaired by the Government Plenipotentiary and co-
chaired by the Plenipotentiary of the National Bank of 
Poland’s Management Board. Overall, more than 30 
institutions are involved in the organizational structure 
for euro adoption in Poland 
(Approved) National 
Changeover Plan  The government adopted the updated version of the 
National Changeover Plan in November 2009, 
http://english.mnb.hu/Engi ne.aspx?page=mnb_euro_inde
x. The Guidelines for National Changeover Plan to be 
published in 2010 after approval by the Council of 
Ministers. This document specifies, among others, the 
activities that  should be undertaken in the process of 
changeover preparations and sets a basic timetable for 
the tasks of the Working Committees. 
Changeover details    
Type of scenario "Big-bang". Not decided yet. To be specified in the National 
Changeover Plan. 
Dual circulation period  Shorter than 1 month, exact length is to be decided  
Exchange of national 
banknotes and coins   
Campaign for rapid 
withdrawal of national 
banknotes and coins   
Frontloading and sub-
frontloading   
ATMs issuing euro only    
Change in euro only   
EN 17   EN  Hungary Poland 
Dual display of prices Compulsory: from the earliest possible date after the 
conversion rate is irrevocably fixed until 30 June of the 
year following €-day. Not decided yet. To be specified in the National 
Changeover Plan. 
Consumer confidence building measures (e.g. 
agreements with 
retailers) Voluntary agreements on fair pricing should be signed 
with retailers and service providers. The signatories will 
be entitled to use a special  logo. Prices should be 
regularly monitored by public institutions and 
organisations of consumers. The results of the 
monitoring are to be regularly communicated to citizens. Not decided yet. To be specified in the National 
Changeover Plan.  
Adaptation of national 
law The National Plan provides for an 'umbrella law' plus 
individual adjustments of legal texts if necessary. A preliminary review of necessary changes continues in 
2010-2011.  
Euro banknotes and coins    
Design of the national 
side 
   
Nr of different coin 
designs   
Coin supplier   
Estimate of the need for 
banknotes and coins To be decided 24 mont hs before €-day.   
Communication activities    
Communication 
strategy The section on communication in the National 
Changeover Plan defines ba sic principles, actors, 
messages and target groups for the communication on 
the euro.  To be prepared by the Working Committee for 
Communication Strategy in 2011. 
Addresses of websites 
on euro changeover: 
Ministry of 
Finance/Government;  
Central Bank National euro website activated in December 2006. 
Hungarian version:  
http://www.mnb.hu/engine.aspx?page=MNBEuro_
Index   
English version: 
http://english.mnb.hu/engine.aspx?page=mnb_
euro_index    
 
www.euro.mf.gov.pl  
www.nbp.pl/euro  
 
Partnership agreement   
Other issues    
ERM II entry  As soon as the conditions outlined in the document 
'Prerequisites for Implementation of the Next Stages of 
the Road Map for Euro Adoption in Poland'  are met.  
EN 18   EN  Hungary Poland 
Twinning agreement AT and HU on communication a nd information strategy 
(finalised). 
FR- HU: A three day seminar on public sector 
preparations for the changeover, legal and 
communication issues wa s held in Budapest 
FR-SK-HU twinning programme started at beginning of 
2010.  2005-2006 DE-PL on communication and information 
strategy and other practical aspects of the changeover  
EN 19   EN  Romania Sweden 
Changeover plan    
National target date for 
euro adoption  2015 Not decided 
National co-ordinating 
institution   
(Approved) National 
Changeover Plan   
Changeover details  
Type of scenario Transitional period envisaged  
Dual circulation period 2 months  
Exchange of national 
banknotes and coins Indefinitely  
Campaign for rapid 
withdrawal of national 
banknotes and coins   
Frontloading and sub-
frontloading   
ATMs issuing euro only   
Change in euro only   
Dual display of prices   
Consumer confidence 
building measures (e.g. 
agreements with 
retailers)   
Adaptation of national 
law   
Euro banknotes 
and coins    
Design of the national 
side 
   
Nr of different coin 
designs   
EN 20   EN  Romania Sweden 
Coin supplier   
Estimation on the need 
for banknotes and coins   
Communication 
activities    
Communication 
strategy   
Addresses of websites 
on euro changeover: 
Government/Ministry 
of Finance; 
Central Bank   
Partnership agreement   
Other issues    
ERM II entry Not before 2012  
Twinning agreement   
EN 21   EN