SL    SL  KOMISIJA EVROP SKIH SKUPNOSTI 
Bruselj, 16.7.2007 
COM(2007) 434 kon č. 
  
SPOROČILO KOMISIJE SVETU, EVROPSKEMU  PARLAMENTU, EVROPSKEMU 
EKONOMSKO-SOCIALNEMU ODBORU,  ODBORU REGIJ IN EVROPSKI 
CENTRALNI BANKI 
Peto poro čilo o prakti čnih pripravah za prihodnjo širitev euroobmo čja 
 
SL 2   SL SPOROČILO KOMISIJE SVETU, EVROPSKEMU  PARLAMENTU, EVROPSKEMU 
EKONOMSKO-SOCIALNEMU ODBORU,  ODBORU REGIJ IN EVROPSKI 
CENTRALNI BANKI 
Peto poro čilo o prakti čnih pripravah za prihodnjo širitev euroobmo čja 
1. U VOD 
Po prevzemu eura v Sloveniji 1. januarja 2007 se stavlja euroobmo čje trinajst držav članic EU. 
Med ostalimi štirinajstimi državami članicami EU jih ima dvanajst status „držav članic z 
odstopanjem“, ki bodo predvidoma prevzele eu ro, ko bodo izpolnile potrebne pogoje, medtem 
ko Danski in Združenemu kralje stvu eura ni treba uvesti.  
Poleg izpolnjevanja „m aastrichtskih“ konvergen čnih meril1 morajo države članice za uvedbo 
eura izvesti obsežne prakti čne priprave, v katere so vklju čeni vsi gospodarski sektorji držav, 
javni sektor in širša javnost. Uspešen prehod na euro v Sloveniji  potrjuje izkušnje držav, ki so 
pristopile k euroobmo čju v prvem valu, da so pravo časne in celovite prakti čne priprave 
bistvene za nemoten prehod na euro in za njegov pozitiven spre jem pri prebivalstvu.2 
To poročilo ocenjuje stanje prakti čnih priprav za prihodn jo širitev euroobmo čja.3 Usmerjeno 
je v zadnji potek dogodkov na Cipru in Malti, saj bosta ti dve državi vstopili v euroobmo čje 
1. januarja 2008, potem ko bo Svet sprejel skle pa o njunem izpolnjevanju potrebnih pogojev 
za prevzem eura. Poro čilo posebno pozornost namenja tudi pripravam na Slovaškem, ki si 
prizadeva za prevzem eura 1. januarja 2009. 
2. S TANJE PRIPRAV NA NACIONALNI RAVNI IN RAVNI SKUPNOSTI4 
2.1. Nacionalne strategije za prevzem eura 
Nacionalni ciljni datum spodbuja pravo časne priprave za prevzem eura in jih pomaga 
osredotočiti, če je z zadostno gotovostjo mogo če predvidevati, da bo država sposobna 
pravočasno izpolniti konvergen čna merila.  
Med letom 2006 je ve č držav (Češka republika, Estonija, Latvija, Litva in Madžarska) 
odstopilo od svojih ciljnih datumov za prevzem eura, zlasti zaradi težav pri izpolnjevanju 
konvergen čnih meril do prvotno dolo čenih datumov. Bolgarija, Poljska in Švedska še niso 
določile ciljnega datuma. Na Švedskem so se po neuspelem referendumu 14. septembra 2003 
                                                 
1 Komisija in ECB v svojih konvergen čnih poročilih presodita, ali razli čne države izpolnjujejo formalne 
zahteve za prevzem eura. Zadnji dve konvergen čni poročili Komisije sta bili sprejeti 16. maja 2007 na 
zahtevo Cipra (COM(2007) 255) in Malte (COM(2007) 258). Naslednje redno konvergen čno poročilo 
bo Komisija objavila leta 2008. 
2 O prehodu v Sloveniji glej Sporo čilo Komisije „Uvedba eura v Sloveniji“ COM(2007) 233 z dne 4. 
maja 2007. 
3 To je peto poro čilo o tej temi. Glej COM(2004) 748 z dne 10. novembra 2004; COM(2005) 545 z dne 
4. novembra 2005; COM(2006) 322 z dne 22. junija 2006; COM(2006) 671 z dne 10. novembra 2006. 
4 Na podlagi informacij, zbranih do 2. julija 2007. 
 
SL 3   SL priprave dejansko zaustavile. Trenutne razmere glede nacionalnih ciljnih datumov so povzete 
v spodnji tabeli. 
Romunija je za svoj ciljni datum dolo čila leto 2014. 
Ciljni datum za prevzem eura Države članice 
1. januar 2008 Ciper, Malta 
1. januar 2009 Slovaška 
2014 Romunija 
Se bo ponovno dolo čil. Bolgarija, Češka republika, Estonija, Latvija, 
Litva, Madžarska, Poljska, Švedska 
2.2. Priprave na Cipru 
2.2.1. Splošni okvir Ciper bo prevzel euro 1. januarja 2008 po scenariju „velikega poka“
5 z obdobjem 
enomesečnega dvojnega obtoka6. 
V četrtem poro čilu o stanju prakti čnih priprav je Komisija ugotov ila, da na splošno ciprski 
nacionalni na črt za prehod vklju čuje večino prakti čnih vprašanj, poveza nih z uvedbo eura, 
potrebni pa so dodatni ukrepi, ki bodo pove čali zaupanje potrošnikov  v stabilno oblikovanje 
cen med prehodom. Ugotovljeno je bilo tudi, da je nacionalni na črt za prehod v ve č pogledih 
še vedno nedodelan in da je treba ve č elementov podrobneje opredeliti.  
V zadnjih nekaj mesecih je bil dosežen napredek. Ministrstvo za finance je v soglasju s 
Centralno banko 21. junija 2007 sprejelo dopolnjeno razli čico nacionalnega na črta za prehod, 
ki je bila odobrena julija 2006. Poleg tega je Centralna banka dopolnila na črt za prehod na 
eurogotovino, sprejeta je bila  nacionalna zakonodaja o uvedbi eura in uveden kodeks o 
poštenem oblikovanju cen.  
2.2.2. Finan čni sektor in podjetja 
Ciprska centralna banka je maja  2007 objavila najnovejši dopolnjeni na črt prehoda na 
eurogotovino. V njem so dolo čene podrobnosti o preddobavi7. Preddobava eurokovancev in 
eurobankovcev se bo za čela 22. oktobra oziroma 19. novembra 2007 in bo kon čana do srede 
decembra 2007. Posredna preddobava eurogotovine  trgovcem na drobno naj bi se predvidoma 
začela sočasno s preddobavo. Od 3. decembra 2007 bo podjetjem in trgovcem na drobno na 
voljo 40 000 pripravljenih paketov kovancev z ustrezno strukturo apoenov za blagajniško 
                                                 
5 Po scenariju „velikega poka“ se hkrati z uvedbo eura kot valute zadevne države članice uvedejo tudi 
eurobankovci in eurokovanci.  
6 Obdobje dvojnega obtoka je obdobje, ki se za čne na dan, ko se dajo v obtok eurobankovci in 
eurokovanci (dan uvedbe eura), ter v katerem sta nacionalna valuta in euro zakoniti pla čilni sredstvi v 
zadevni državi članici. 
7 Preddobava pomeni eurobankovce in eurokovance, ki jih nacionalna centralna banka dobavi kreditnim 
ustanovam pred uvedbo eurogotovine. Posredna preddobava pomeni preddobavljene eurobankovce in 
eurokovance, ki jih kreditne ustanove razdelijo trgovcem na drobno in drugim podjetjem ter po 
možnosti tudi širši javnosti pred uvedbo eurogotovine. 
 
SL 4   SL poslovanje v prvih dneh po dnevu uvedbe eura (za četni paketi), vsak v vrednosti 172 EUR. 
Od tega dne naprej bo prebivalstvu na voljo 250 000 mini paketov, vsak v vrednosti 10 CYP.  
V prvi uri dneva uvedbe eura bo približno 70 % bankomatov kreditn ih ustanov (vseh je 
približno 500) prilagojenih za izro čanje izklju čno eurobankovcev (za 10 in 20 EUR), drugih 
30 % pa najpozneje do opoldne istega dne. Od dneva uvedbe eura bodo trgovci na drobno 
vračali drobiž samo v eurih.  
Na praznik 1. januarja 2008 bo v središ ču vsakega okoliša odprtih ve č bančnih podružnic za 
lažjo zamenjavo ciprskih funtov v eure.  
Novembra 2006 je ciprska centralna banka za čela kampanjo za spodbujanje državljanov, naj 
porabijo zaloge gotovine v nacion alni valuti ali jo položijo v ba nke, da bi tako do konca leta 
2007 zmanjšali koli čino gotovine v ciprskih funtih  v obtoku. V septembru 2007 se na črtuje 
intenzivna oglaševalska kampanja za porabo zalog gotovine  v stari valuti. 
Zgrajen je bil poseben center ciprske centralne banke za kovance, ki bo služil za shranjevanje 
in razdeljevanje eurokovancev (preddobava bankam in dobava kovancev med prehodom), 
nato pa za zbiranje , predelavo in uni čenje nacionalnih kovancev.  
Centralna banka zagotavlja usposabljanje o varnostnih zna čilnostih eurogotovine za 
profesionalne uporabnike gotovine v ban čništvu, prodaji na drobno in  javnih sektorjih. 
2.2.3. Javna uprava 
Parlament je 15. marca 2007 sprejel „Zakon o pr evzemu eura “, njegove spremembe pa so 
bile sprejete 21. junija 2007. Ta  „krovni zakon “ med drugim dolo ča trajanje obdobja 
dvojnega obtoka, zamenjavo bankovcev in kovancev ciprskega f unta v eurogotovino v 
komercialnih bankah brez provizije, prera čunavanje denarnih zneskov in pravila 
zaokroževanja, dvojno ozna čevanje cen in ustanov itev euroopazovalnic.  
Na podlagi javnega razpisa je Ciper izbral finsko kovnico za izdelavo njegovih eurokovancev 
(za motive glej Prilogo 3). Serijska izdelava se je za čela po Sklepu Sveta z dne 10. julija 2007 
o preklicu odstopanja za Ciper.  
2.2.4. Potrošniki in širša javnost 
Po „Zakonu o prevzemu eura iz leta 2007“ bodo morala podjetja in trgovci na drobno od 
1. septembra 2007 do 30. septembra 2008 cene ozna čevati v ciprskih funt ih in eurih. Rezultati 
zadnjega Eurobarometra, ki je bil opravljen za Komisijo mar ca 2007, potrjujejo, da se zelo 
velika večina ankentirancev na Cipru (83 %) boji povišanj ali celo  zlorabe cen ob prehodu na 
euro.8 V anketi, ki je bila januarja 2007 opravljena med podjetji za Komisijo9, je skoraj eno od 
šestih podjetij navedlo, da bo svoj e cene prilagodilo navzgor. V hot elirstvu in gostinstvu je 27 
% podjetij navedlo, da predvidevajo tak ukrep.  
Da bi vlada pomirila potrošnike, ki jih  skrbijo povišanja cen, in spodbudila „pošteno 
oblikovanje cen“, je 26. junija 2007 za čela kampanjo, s katero poziva podjetja in trgovce na 
                                                 
8 Flash Eurobarometer 207, Uvedba eura v novih državah članicah. Vse ankete Eurobarometra o euru so 
na voljo na http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/euro_en.htm .  
9 Flash Eurobarometer 200. Glej opombo 8. 
 
SL 5   SL drobno, naj sprejmejo kodeks o poštenem oblikovanju cen.10 Kodeks bo velja l od 10. julija 
2007 do 10. julija 2008. V skladu s kodeksom se podjetja in trgovci na  drobno zavežejo, da 
bodo prehod opravili pošteno ter da pri te m ne bodo iskali koristi. Seznam sodelujo čih 
podjetij bo objavljen, podjetja pa bodo lahko uporabila logotip kodeksa v svojih trgovinah ali poslovnih prostorih. Pobudo je javno podprlo ve č velikih podjetij in poslovnih organizacij. 
V vseh pokrajinah so  euroopazovalnice za čele delovati 1. julija 2007. Sestavlja jih po deset 
članov, vklju čno z okrajnim komisarjem ter predstav niki vlade, združenj potrošnikov, 
sindikatov in poslovnega sektorja. Opazovalnice, ki jim pomaga ve č kot 100 inšpektorjev, 
nadzorujejo uvedbo eura in upošte vanje Zakona o prevzemu eura iz  leta 2007 s strani podjetij, 
usklajujejo kodeks o poštenem ob likovanju cen in državljane obveš čajo o euru.  
2.2.5. Informiranje 
Po pristopu Cipra k EU se je podpora širše ja vnosti euru zmanjševal a s prvotno sorazmerno 
visoke ravni. Zato je bilo o čitno, da morajo organi oblasti med pripravo na uvedbo eura za četi 
precej intenzivno informacijsko kampanjo, da se negativni trend obrne v pozitivno smer, 
zlasti s pojasnjevanjem prednos ti in odpravljanjem bojazni.  Intenzivna faza ciprske 
informacijske kampanje se je za čela z zamudo zaradi težav s pos topkom javnega razpisa za 
izbiro agencije za odnose z javnostmi, ki  je bila izbrana šele februarja 2007. 
Pred tem je bilo izvedenih ve č informacijskih dejavnosti, nekatere v tesnem sodelovanju z 
Evropsko komisijo. Maja in novembra 2006 so bile organizirane konference o prehodu na 
euro z notranjimi in zunanjimi zainteresiran imi stranmi. Razstava Evropske komisije 
„Nastanek eurokovancev“ je na Cipru pot ekala od oktobra 2006 do januarja 2007. V prvih 
mesecih leta 2007 so bili organizira ni seminarji, med drugim za finan čni sektor in ciprske 
novinarje. Vzpostavljena je bi la nacionalna spletn a stran za euro. Po izboru agencije za 
odnose z javnostmi je za čel Ciper v svojih sredstvih javnega obveš čanja krepiti prizadevanja 
za obveščanje v zvezi z uvedbo eura, pri čemer se je osredoto čil zlasti na mala in srednje 
velika podjetja, podeželje, ranljive skupine, odp ravo bojazni pred neutemeljenim zvišanjem 
cen in krepitev zaupanja potrošn ikov. Konec maja 2007 se je za čela izvajati dolgoro čna 
strategija za televizijs ko kampanjo. V prvi fazi se bo kampanja usmerila v prehod na euro in 
prednosti eura. Ciprski organi  so organizirali tudi ve č tiskovnih dejavnosti. Rezultati zadnjega 
Flash Eurobarometra potrjujejo, da te dejavnosti  prinašajo sadove, saj se je podpora v zadnjih 
šestih mesecih bistveno pove č
ala, vendar pa je še vedno potreben nadaljnji napredek. 
Evropska komisija podpira Ciper s svojim i centralnimi dejavnostmi ter zagotavljanjem 
publikacij in promocijskega gradiva. Delno, pod  okriljem sporazuma o partnerstvu, financira 
tudi delo ve č uradnikov za obveš čanje, brezpla čno pomoč po telefonu (uvedeno 11. junija 
2007) ter medijski prora čun za kampanje v drugi polovici le ta 2007 in v letu 2008. Zagotovila 
bo tudi premi čne stojnice za uporabo v javnih zgradbah in  sodelovala s ciprskimi šolami pri 
organizaciji nacionalneg a tekmovanja za boljše poznavanje eura.  
Ciprska centralna banka delno v sode lovanju z Evropsko centralno banko na črtuje obsežno 
informacijsko kampanjo, zlasti o eurobankovcih in eurokovancih ter njihovih varnostnih 
značilnostih.  
                                                 
10 Glej http://www.euro.cy/euro/euro.nsf/dmlbusinesssector_en/dmlbusinesssector_en?OpenDocument. 
 
SL 6   SL 2.2.6. Sklepna ugotovitev 
Čeprav je Ciper dosegel napredek pri svojih prakti čnih pripravah za uvedbo eura, bi jih moral 
še pospešiti. Posebno pozornost bi bilo treba nameniti u činkovitemu in vsedržavnemu 
izvajanju kodeksa o poštenem oblikovanju cen  in informacijske kampanje o euru.  
2.3. Priprave na Malti 
2.3.1. Splošni okvir Malta bo prevzela euro 1. januarja 2008 po scenariju „velikega poka“ z obdobjem 
enomesečnega dvojnega obtoka. 
V četrtem poro čilu je Komisija ugotovila, da  „drugi dopolnjeni glavni na črt za prehod na euro 
na Malti“ podrobno in celovito obravnava pomembne vidike prehoda, nekatere vidike pa je 
treba še dodatno opredeliti. Nacionalni odbor za prehod na euro (National Euro Changeover 
Committee – NECC) je februarja 2007 objavil „tretji dopolnjeni glavni na črt“, 11. julija 2007 
pa „končni glavni na črt“. Oba vsebujeta dodatne opr edelitve in izboljšave.  
2.3.2. Finan čni sektor in podjetja 
Od januarja 2007 morajo banke spre jeti pologe eurobankovcev na ban čne račune, ki se vodijo 
v eurih, brez zara čunanja provizije. Ker se za polog eurogotovine na ra čune, ki se vodijo v 
eurih, ne zara čuna provizija, so trgovci na drobno, ki so  že leta 2007 pripravljeni sprejeti 
gotovinska pla čila v eurih (na primer v turizmu), za konsko zavezani, da pri tem upoštevajo 
menjalno razmerje (ali preden je bilo to dolo čeno, centralno pariteto) in ne zara čunajo 
provizije.  
Odkar je Svet 10. julija 2007 dolo čil nespremenljivo menjalno razmerje, sprejemajo kreditne 
ustanove prostovoljno eurobankovce, ki jih položijo njihov e stranke na ra čune, ki se vodijo v 
malteških lirah, po menjalnem r azmerju in brez provizije.  
Preddobava eurobankovcev kreditnim ustanovam se bo za čela konec septembra/za četek 
oktobra 2007, preddobava eur okovancev pa konec oktobra/za četek novembra 2007. Posredna 
preddobava podjetjem se bo za čela 1. decembra 2007, skupaj z razdeljevanjem za četnih 
paketov kovancev v vrednosti 131 EUR manjšim podjetjem, predvsem trgovcem na drobno. 
Javnost bo lahko od 10. decembra 2007 kupila mi ni pakete v vrednosti 11,65 EUR. 
Poleg tega bodo od 1. decembra 2007 kreditne us tanove menjale malteške lire v eure in 
obratno po nespremenljivem menjalnem razmerju  in brez provizije. Vendar bo širša javnost 
opozorjena, da bo euro postal zakonito pla čilno sredstvo šele 1. januarja 2008. 
Približno 60 % vseh bankomatov (od skupno približno 150) bo 1. januarja 2008 ob 0.00 
začelo izro
čati eurobankovce nižjih vrednosti (za 10 in 20 eurov), drugi bankomati pa bodo 
prilagojeni v istem dnevu. 
 
SL 7   SL 2.3.3. Javna uprava 
Na podlagi Zakona o prevzemu eura iz leta 2006, ki je za čel veljati 29. septembra 2006, je 
minister za finance izdal Pravno obve stilo 4 iz leta 2007 o „dvojnem ozna čevanju cen in 
njihovem oblikovanju v eurih“ (glej to čko 2.3.4.).11 
Ker Malta nima nacionalne kovnice, maltešk e eurokovance (za motive glej Prilogo 3) 
izdelujejo v kovnici Monnaie  de Paris, ki je bila izbrana na  podlagi javnega razpisa. Serijska 
izdelava se je za čela po sprejetju Sklepa Sveta z dne 10. julija 2007 o preklicu odstopanja za 
Malto.  
2.3.4. Potrošniki in javnost 
Dvojno ozna čevanje cen v eurih in malteških lirah je postalo obvezno 10. julija 2007, ko je 
Svet dolo čil menjalno razmerje, ter bo obvezno do 30. junija 2008. Vse vladne ustanove, 
podjetja, nepridobitne organi zacije in drugi subjekti morajo uporabljati dvojno ozna čevanje 
denarnih zneskov, cen ali vrednosti blaga in st oritev, ki jih ponujajo potrošniku, v skladu s 
Pravnim obvestilom 4 iz leta 2007 o „dvojnem ozna čevanju cen in njihovem oblikovanju v 
eurih“. Za pomo č podjetjem in informiranje potrošnikov je NECC objavil „Smernice za 
dvojno ozna čevanje cen“.  
Da bi vlada in NECC pomirila zaskrbljenost potrošnikov zaradi morebitnega zvišanja cen 
med prehodom in prispevala k stabiln im cenam, sta uvedla celovit niz ukrepov. 
Prvič, januarja 2007 se je za čela izvajati pobuda FAIR (sporazumi o poštenem oblikovanju 
cen v maloprodaji)12. Podjetja, ki pristopijo k tej pobudi, se zavežejo, da bodo pravilno 
uporabljala dvojno ozna čevanje cen ter ne bodo zvišala cen blaga in storitev „zaradi prehoda 
na novo valuto“.13 Izvršilni ukrepi, kot so naložite v globe, zagotavljajo, da podjetja 
izpolnjujejo svoje obveznosti. Seznam podjetij, ki  sodelujejo pri pobudi FAIR, je objavljen na 
spletni strani NECC; do zdaj  je k pobudi pristopilo že ve č kot 5 000 podjetij. Za oglaševanje 
lahko uporabljajo logotip FAIR, za pripravo na pr ehod na euro pa jim NECC daje na voljo 
podporo in usposabljanje. 
Drugič, euroopazovalnica, us tanovljena v zadnjem četrtletju leta 2006 , usklajuje pobudo 
FAIR, spremlja gibanje cen med prehodom in  opravlja preiskave v primeru domnevnih 
kršitev dolo čbe o dvojnem ozna čevanju cen in obveznosti iz sporazuma FAIR. 
Euroopazovalnici pomaga 70 europomo čnikov. 
Tretjič, sindikat izvaja na podlag i javnega razpisa v imenu NECC vrsto anonimnih akcij 
„skriti kupec“. Spremljajo cene 200 izdelkov in 40 storitev. Rezultate analizirajo, da objavijo 
trende oblikovanja cen  na nekem podro čju in posebne primere velikega zvišanja cen med 
prehodom.  
In končno, na splošno se bodo denarni zneski v naci onalni zakonodaji in vsi zneski, ki jih je 
treba plačati ali obra čunati (npr. pristojbine, globe), na domestili z enakovrednimi zneski v 
                                                 
11 Izdano januarja 2007. Na voljo na http://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/legalnotices/2007/default.asp . 
12 Glej http://www.mfin.gov.mt/page.aspx?site=NECC&page=fair. 
13 Glej 11.(1)(d) Pravnega obvestila  4 iz leta 2007 (opomba 11).  
 
SL 8   SL eurih, dolo čenimi po menjalnem razmerju in pravilih o zaokroževanju.14. Izravnava, tj. 
prilagoditev denarnih zneskov ustreznim znesko m v eurih, se uporabi samo izjemoma in v 
korist potrošnika, kar daje vz gled zasebnemu sektorju.  
2.3.5. Informiranje 
Ker je bila sprva podpora eu ru na Malti sorazmerno nizka, je NECC jeseni 2006 za čel 
izjemno celovito in intenzivno informacijsko kamp anjo za pripravo na prehod. V prvi fazi (do 
maja 2007) je bila informacijska kampan ja usmerjena v širi tev glavnih sporo čil ter obveš čanje 
širše javnosti in dolo čenih sektorjev potrošnikov o prednostih eura z brezpla čnim telefonom 
(„154“), dnevnimi televizijskimi in radijski mi spoti, euroglasilom, tedenskimi oglasi v 
nacionalnih časopisih, ciljno usmerjenimi članki v revijah, konferencami  in seminarji. Cilj 
kampanje, ki bo intenzivnejša v drugi fazi, je dose či vse skupine družbe ter zato uporabiti 
različne poti in orodja, prilagojena posamezni skupi ni (npr. da bi dosegli in izobrazili ranljive 
skupine ljudi in njihove u čitelje, so pripravili avdiovizualno in tiskano gradivo). Kampanjo v 
sredstvih javnega obveš čanja sta podprli dostava eurokole darja vsem gospodinjstvom in 
pomoč po telefonu („154“). Intenzivno ka mpanjo v sredstvih javnega obveš čanja sestavljajo 
dnevni televizijski in radijski spoti, eurogl asilo za širšo javnost, te denski oglasi v vseh 
nacionalnih časopisih, ciljno usmerjeni članki v revijah, konference in seminarji. Pri ciljnih 
skupinah podjetij je bila posebna pozornost namenjena sporazumu o poštenem oblikovanju 
cen v maloprodaji. Te dejavnosti so o čitno obrodile sadove, saj rezultati zadnjega 
Eurobarometra kažejo precejšnje pove čanje podpore euru in zaznane ravni informiranosti. 
Evropska komisija je delno prek sporazuma o partnerstvu financirala pripravo publikacij, 
kampanjo v sredstvih javnega obveš čanja in delo uradnikov za obveš čanje. Razstava 
Evropske komisije „Euro, naša valuta“ je bi la na ogled na Malti med mednarodnim sejmom, 
ki je potekal od 27. junija do  8. julija 2007. Jun ija 2007 je bil podpisan nov sporazum o 
partnerstvu, ki vklju čuje nadaljnje zaposlovanje uradnikov za obveš čanje in obsežno 
kampanjo v sredstvih javnega obveš čanja v drugi fazi (od juni ja 2007 do 15. februarja 2008).  
2.3.6. Sklepna ugotovitev 
Praktične priprave Malte za uvedbo eu ra zelo lepo napredujejo. Info rmiranje države o euru je 
izredno iz črpno in kakovostno. Malta bi morala za uspešen in nemoten prehod ohraniti 
trenutni tempo svojih priprav.  
2.4. Priprave na Slovaškem 
2.4.1. Splošni okvir Slovaška si prizadeva za prev zem eura 1. januarja 2009 po scenariju „velikega poka“ z 
obdobjem šestnajstdnevnega dvojne ga obtoka. Slovaška je 6. juli ja 2005 sprejela celovit 
nacionalni na črt za prehod na euro. Potem so se priprave upo časnile, predvsem zaradi 
parlamentarnih volitev junija 2006. Vlada je 21. marca 2007 potrdila do polnitev nacionalnega 
načrta za prehod, ki med drugim vklju čuje preddobavo in posredno preddobavo eurogotovine, 
dvojno ozna čevanje cen in ve č pobud za obravnavanje vprašanj glede varstva potrošnikov.  
                                                
 
14 Glej člena 4 in 5 Uredbe Sveta (ES) št. 1103/97 o nekaterih dolo čbah v zvezi z uvajanjem eura (UL L 
162, 19.6.1997, str. 1), kakor je bila spremenjena z Uredbo Sveta (ES) št. 2595/2000 z dne 27. 
novembra 2000 (UL L 300, 29.11.2000, str. 1).  
 
SL 9   SL 2.4.2. Finan čni sektor in podjetja 
Začetek preddobave eurokovacev in eurobankovcev komercialnim bankam je predviden 
septembra oziroma sredi novembra 2008. Posredna  preddobava maloprodajnemu sektorju je 
predvidena novembra in decembra 2008. Do  konca marca 2008 naj bi banke obvestile 
slovaško nacionalno banko o svojih potrebah po eurobankovcih in euro kovancih, razdeljenih 
po apoenih, za preddobavo in prva dva te dna leta 2009. S prvim januarjem 2009 naj bi 
predvidoma vsi bankomati za čeli izročati samo eure, trgovci na drobno pa vra čati drobiž samo 
v eurih. Posredna preddobava prebivalstvu pred  dnevom uvedbe eura tr enutno ni predvidena, 
saj ima velik del prebivalstva že dolo čeno količino eurogotovine.  
Pri slovaški nacionalni banki  se bodo nacionalni kovanci  lahko zamenjali brez pla čila 
provizije pet let po dnevu uvedb e eura, nacionalni bankovci pa časovno neomejeno. 
Komercialne banke bodo menjale kovance in ba nkovce kron v eure brez provizije do konca 
junija oziroma decembra 2009. 
2.4.3. Javna uprava 
Nacionalni koordinacijski odbor za prehod na euro  je najvišji upravljavski in koordinacijski 
organ, ki pripravlja prehod na euro na Slovašk em. Predseduje mu minister za finance (ki je 
nacionalni koordinator za prehod), sopredsedu je pa guverner Banke  Slovaške. Decembra 
2005 je bil imenovan pooblaš čenec vlade za pospešitev pr ipravljalnih dejavnosti.  
Končni motivi nacionalnih strani slovaških eu rokovancev so bili odobreni aprila 2007 (za 
motive glej Prilogo 3). Junija 2007 je bil podpisan Memorandum o soglasju med Slovaško 
republiko, državami članicami euroobmo čja in Evropsko komisijo o za četku pripravljalnih 
nalog pred za četkom serijske izdelave eurokovancev. 
Slovaška je imenovala pristojne organe za zaš čito eura pred ponarejanjem. Pri Ministrstvu za 
notranje zadeve je ustanovila nacionalni central ni urad ter nacionalni center za analizo 
(bankovcev) in nacionalni center za analizo kova ncev, oba v okviru Narodne banke Slovaške. 
Slovaška se tudi redno udel ežuje zasedanj ustr eznih odborov in us posabljanj v okviru 
programa Pericles. 
2.4.4. Potrošniki in širša javnost 
Dvojno ozna čevanje cen v slovaških kronah in eurih bo postalo obvezno najpozneje en mesec 
po določitvi nespremenljivega menjalnega razmer ja. Ta obveznost bo trajala 12 mesecev po 
uvedbi eura. Nacionalni koordinato r za prehod na euro priporo ča, naj se maloprodajni sektor 
javno zaveže, da bo ohranil stabilne cene in  zaradi prehoda na euro ne bo zvišal 
maloprodajnih cen. Poslovna s kupnost je prip ravila etični kodeks o poštenem ravnanju med 
prehodom15, ki ga je prostovoljno podprlo ve č kot 70 v glavnem ve čjih podjetij. Predvidoma 
bodo ta kodeks upoštevale tudi ob činske in lokalne uprave. Pla čila vladi (pristojbine, davki 
itd.) se bodo zaokrožila navzdol, pla čila vlade državljanom pa navzgor.  
Statistični urad Republike Slovaške in Narodna banka Slovaške na črtujeta v sodelovanju z 
združenji potrošnikov spremljanje gibanja cen  na podlagi omejene košarice najpogosteje 
kupljenega blaga za široko porabo. Potr ošniki bodo o rezultatih redno obveš čeni.  
                                                 
15 Glej http://www.euro.gov.sk/index.php?ID=1434. 
 
SL 10   SL 2.4.5. Informiranje 
Ministrstvo za finance in Narodna banka Sl ovaške sta v okviru dopolnjenega nacionalnega 
načrta za prehod pripravila informacijsko strategijo za prevze m eura. Informacijska kampanja 
bo usmerjena v širšo javnost in vrsto dolo čenih skupin preb ivalstva, vklju čno z narodnostnimi 
manjšinami in ranljivimi skupinami. V prvi polov ici leta 2007 so Narodna banka Slovaške in 
ministrstva izvajali pos ebne dejavnosti za obveš čanje malih in srednje velikih podjetij o 
prednostih eura. Evropska komisija in slovaški organi se pripra vljajo na sklenitev sporazuma 
o partnerstvu jeseni 2007. 
2.4.6. Sklepna ugotovitev 
Dopolnjeni nacionalni na črt za prehod je dokaj celovit, vendar pa glede nekaterih vidikov še 
vedno premalo podroben, ve č pomembnih elementov pa bo tr eba dodatno opredeliti (npr. 
podrobnosti o preddobavi in posredni preddobavi , odstranitvi gotovine v kronah iz obtoka, 
podrobnosti o informacijski strategiji ). Predvideti bi bilo treba za četne pakete za širšo javnost, 
da bodo imeli prebivalci na voljo  dovolj eurokovancev za pla čevanje takoj po dnevu uvedbe 
eura, kar bo pospešilo prehod in trgovcem na drobno omogo čilo vračanje drobiža izklju čno v 
eurih. Treba je sprejeti dodatne ukrepe za okrepitev zaupanja potrošnikov v stabilno 
oblikovanje cen med prehodom, kot je izvajanje celovite strategije za pošteno oblikovanje 
cen, o kateri se dogovorijo potr ošniki in trgovci na drobno. Slovaška bi morala na teh 
področjih nedvomno pospešiti  svoje priprave.  
2.5. Priprave v drugih državah 
Češka republika je dober primer pravo časnih priprav za prehod na euro brez ciljnega datuma. 
Vlada je 11. aprila 2007 sp rejela celovit nacionalni na črt za prehod. Ta država se bo odlo čila 
za scenarij „velikega poka“ z obdobjem dvot edenskega dvojnega obtoka. Nacionalni na črt za 
prehod med drugim vklju čuje preddobavo in posredno pr edobavo (ki se bosta za čeli tri 
mesece oziroma en mesec pred dnevom uvedbe eura), zamenjavo nacionalnih bankovcev in kovancev, dvojno ozna čevanje cen, sporazum o poštenem oblikovanju cen s trgovci na 
drobno in oris informacijske strategije. Razdeljeni  so bili prospekti s splošnimi informacijami 
o euru.  
Estonska vlada je 31. oktobra 2006 odobrila peto razli čico nacionalnega na črta za prehod, ki 
večinoma ustreza predhodni razli čici. Zaradi odstopa od dolo čenega ciljnega datuma v njem 
niso navedeni dolo čeni datumi, namesto njih se uporab lja izraz „dan uvedbe eura“.  
Vlada Litve je 25. aprila 2007 sp rejela dopolnjeni nacionalni na črt za prehod in novo 
informacijsko strategijo. Nova razli čica med drugim predvideva daljše obdobje dvojnega 
označevanja cen (120 pred dnevom uvedbe eura in po njem) ter zgodnejši za četek preddobave 
komercialnim bankam (najpozneje do 1. decembra).  
Romunija je za svoj ciljni datum prevzema eura dolo čila leto 2014. 
V drugih državah članicah od zadnjega poro čila ni bilo omembe vrednega napredka. 
V prilogah 1 in 2 je seznam pomembnih zna čilnosti prehoda in pregled stanja prakti čnih 
priprav na nacionalni ravni. 
 
SL 11   SL 3. J AVNO MNENJE V NOVIH DRŽAVAH ČLANICAH  
V Prilogi 5 je naveden pregled javnega mnenja v novih državah članicah. 
 
SL 12   SL ANNEX  1 
List of relevant changeover characteristics 
The table below provides an overview of certain relevant changeover characteristics in each 
Member State concerned. It is solely based on officially approved and publicly available 
information and does therefore not reflect prepar ations which are still under way. It should be 
noted that the state and degree of progress of pr eparations should be asse ssed in the context of 
the target date, as preparations tend to  speed up as the changeover approaches.  
X: Officially approved/ established and published 
(in particular in the na tional changeover plan) 
 
 BG CZ EE CY LV LT HU MT PL RO SK SE 
Changeover plan   
National target date    X    X  X X  
National Changeover Plan  X X X X X  X   X  
National Changeover Committee   X X X X X  X   X  
Cash Changeover details  
Type of scenario   X X X X X X  X   X  
Length of dual circulation period  X X X X X X X   X  
Exchange at commercial banks after 
dual circulation period  X X X X X X X   X  
Exchange at central bank after dual 
circulation period  X X X X X  X   X  
Frontloading of financial institutions   X X X X  X   X  
Sub-frontloading of retailers    X X X X  X   X  
Sub-frontloading of the general 
public   X16 X     X      
Deferred debiting17    X   X   X      
Campaign for early cash withdrawal   X X  X  X     
Arrangements for extended bank 
opening hours around €-day    X     X      
ATMs dispensing euro only as from 
€-day   X X X X  X   X  
Denominations of notes in ATMs 
specified   X  X     X      
Transport and storage for euro cash   X X    X     
Transport and storage for legacy 
cash   X X X   X     
Change only given in euro by 
retailers as from €-day   X X  X  X   X  
Coin starter kits for retailers    X    X     
Coins mini-kits for general public    X    X     
Design of national side of the euro 
coins   X X  X  X   X  
Supply arrangements for euro coins   X X    X     
                                                 
16 Exchange at banks at the conversion rate without service fees. 
17 I.e. debiting of frontloaded euro cash at a date later than the date of delivery of the frontloaded cash. 
 
SL 13   SL  BG CZ EE CY LV LT HU MT PL RO SK SE 
Further changeover details   
Necessary adaptations of national 
law identified   X X X X  X   X  
Dual display of prices before €-day  X X X X X  X   X  
Dual display of prices after €-day  X X X X X  X   X  
Dual display of utility bills   X X    X   X  
Dual display of civil servants’ wages    X    X     
Voluntary dual display of prices   X   X  X   X  
Agreements on price stability or fair 
pricing     X X X  X   X  
Price monitoring projects   X X X X  X   X  
Training for cash handlers   X X X   X   X  
Accounting adaptations    X X X   X   X  
Share capital conversion   X X    X   X  
Rounding rules in legislation   X X    X   X  
Evaluation of the costs involved for 
the public sector              
Twinning agreement     X  X X X X  X  
Communication activities  
Communication strategy    X X X X  X   X  
Partnership agreement   X X  X  X     
 
SL 14   SL ANNEX  2  
State of practical preparations (June 2007) 
 
 Bulgaria Czech Republic 
Changeover plan   
National target date for 
euro adoption   The preliminary target date (1 January 2010) has been 
withdrawn by the government on 25 October 2006. No 
new date has been officially set for the time being. 
National co-ordinating institution  On 23 November 2005, the Depu ty Minister of Finance 
was appointed as the National Co-ordinator of Euro 
Adoption. The National Co-ordination Group was 
established and held its fi rst meeting on 20 February 
2006. Two other meetings we re organised during 2006 
and one in February 2007. Six Working Groups were 
established for particular areas of preparatory activity for 
the euro.  
On 28 March 2007, a new National Co-ordinator for 
Euro Adoption was appointed by the Czech government. 
(Approved) National 
Changeover Plan  The Czech Republic’s Euro Accession Strategy was 
approved by the Government in October 2003:  
http://www.cnb.cz/euro_index.php.  
The Institutional Arrangements for the Introduction of 
the Euro in the Czech Republic were adopted by the 
Government on 23 November 2005. 
The first National Changeover Plan was approved by the 
Czech government on 11 April 2007:  
http://www.mfcr.cz/cps/rd e/xbcr/mfcr/Narodni_plan_ver
ze_10-FV_pdf.pdf 
Changeover details   
Type of scenario  "Big bang". 
On 30 June 2006, the National Co-ordination Group 
adopted a recommendation to the government 
concerning the changeover scenario, suggesting that it 
opt for the "big bang" scenario. The recommendation was approved by the govern ment on 25 October 2006. 
Dual circulation period  The length of this period is intended to be 2 full calendar 
weeks as from €-day. 
Exchange of national 
banknotes and coins  The Czech National Bank, commercial banks and other 
selected entities will exchange cash for at least 6 months 
after€-day. After the 6 months period, the legacy 
currency will be only exchangeable at the Czech 
National Bank. The length of the banknote exchange 
period has still to be decided; coins will be exchangeable 
for a period of 5 years. 
 
SL 15   SL  Bulgaria Czech Republic 
Campaign for rapid 
withdrawal of national 
banknotes and coins   
Frontloading and sub-
frontloading  Frontloading of banks will start 3 months ahead of €-day 
and sub-frontloading of the non-financial sector will start 
one month ahead. 
ATMs issuing euro only   
Change in euro only   
Dual display of prices  Dual display of prices will be introduced within one 
month after the fixing of the conversion rate and will continue for 12 months after the changeover date. 
Consumer confidence 
building measures (e.g. 
agreements with 
retailers)  A voluntary commitment of retailers (fair-pricing 
agreement) is planned. In addition, a 'memorandum of 
understanding', to be signed by the retail and services 
sector and the consumer pr otection associations, is 
envisaged. These measures are planned to be 
implemented no later than one  month after the fixing of 
the conversion rate. 
Adaptation of national 
law  The necessary adaptations of national law for the 
introduction of the euro are being analysed in the 
framework of the Working Group for Legislation of the 
National Co-ordination Group. A special group will be 
constituted in order to prepare the General Act on the Euro Introduction in the Czech Republic. 
Euro banknotes and coins   
Design of the national side 
  Competition under consideration. 
Nr of different coin 
designs   
Coin supplier  Not decided yet. 
The current coin supplier, the Czech Mint, is an 
independent division of Jablonex Group a.s.; the Czech 
Mint is connected with the National Bank by business 
contracts based on tender procedures. 
Estimation on the need for banknotes and coins  230 million banknotes and 950 million coins. 
Communication activities   
Communication 
strategy  Under preparation within th e framework of the Working 
Group for Communication.  
 
SL 16   SL  Bulgaria Czech Republic 
Addresses of websites 
on euro changeover, 
activation date: 
Government/Ministry 
of Finance; 
Central Bank  Governmental EU info rmation department: 
http://www.euroskop.cz/euro 
Ministry of Finance: 
http:// www.mfcr.cz/euro 
Czech National Bank: 
http://www.cnb.cz/cz/mezi narodni_vzta hy/euro/ 
Ministry of Industry and Trade: 
http://www.mpo.cz/cz/eu-a-vni trni-trh/euro-pristoupeni-
cr-k-eurozone/default.html 
Partnership agreement   
Other issues   
ERM II entry   
Twinning agreement  Project with the National Bank of Belgium, Czech 
Ministry of Finance and the Czech National Bank, to be 
approved by the EC.  
 
SL 17   SL State of practical preparations (June 2007) 
 
 Estonia Cyprus 
Changeover plan   
National target date for euro 
adoption  Estonia targets euro area membership as soon as 
possible (2011 being the earliest possible envisaged 
date according to current inflation forecasts). 1 January 2008 
National co-ordinating 
institution The National Changeover Committee, chaired by 
the Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance, 
was set up on 27 January 2005. Joint co-ordination by the Minister of Finance and the 
Central bank of Cyprus, established on 29 December 
2004. 
(Approved) National 
Changeover Plan  The first draft of the euro adoption plan was 
approved by the government on 1 September 2005: 
http://www.fin.ee/index.php?id=13324 . 
The fifth version of Estonia's National Changeover 
Plan was approved by the government on 31 
October 2006: 
http://euro.eesti.ee/EU/Prod/Euroveeb/Main_Page/l
eft_menu_content4748/Changeover_to_the_euro_in
_Estonia/europlaan_en.jsp  The National Changeover Plan was approved by the 
National Advisory Committee on 29 March 2006 and by 
the Council of Ministers on 13 July 2006. An updated 
version was approved by the Ministry of Finance, with 
the consent of the Central Bank of Cyprus, on 21 June 
2007. Part of the National Changeover Plan is the Cash 
Changeover Plan, which was published by the Central 
Bank of Cyprus as a separate  document. Both plans are 
published on the national euro website ( www.euro.cy ). 
The Cash Changeover plan is also published on the 
website of the Central Bank of Cyprus 
(http://www.centralbank.gov. cy/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=476
4). 
 
Changeover details    
Type of scenario "Big bang". 
 "Big bang".  
Dual circulation period  Two weeks. 1-31 January 2008. 
Exchange of national 
banknotes and coins Banknotes and coins: comme rcial banks at least 
6 months after €-day free of charge, some branches 
12 months. Central Bank indefinitely, free of 
charge. 'The exchange of national banknotes and coins is 
governed by the 'umbrella law' ('Adoption of the Euro 
Law 2007'). The Law provides for the exchange of 
banknotes and coins by the Central Bank for 10 years 
and 2 years, respectively. Commercial banks will 
exchange national banknotes and coins for euro, free of 
charge, at least for th e amount of CYP 1000 for 
banknotes and CYP 50 for coins per transaction, for a 
period of 6 months after €-day. There will be no limits or 
charges for deposits at commercial banks of national 
banknotes and coins during the 6-months period.  
Campaign for rapid withdrawal of national 
banknotes and coins Campaign for collection of coins before €-day 
planned; credit institutions are recommended to 
launch early cash de posit campaigns. A campaign to encourage citizens to use hoarded cash or 
to deposit it with banks before the introduction of the 
euro has been launched in November 2006 and will be 
intensified in September 2007. 
 
SL 18   SL  Estonia Cyprus 
Frontloading and sub-
frontloading Frontloading 2 months before €-day; sub-
frontloading by credit institutions to major clients 1 
month before €-day (precondition: no distribution to 
general public before €-day). 
Banks will offer to change kroons into euro 
banknotes at the conversion rate and without a 
service fee at least one month prior to €-day. Frontloading and sub-frontloading of banknotes will start 
on 19 November 2007, and frontloading and sub-
frontloading of coins on 22 October 2007. 
The frontloading of coins will be carried out from a Coin 
Centre.  
Starter-kits will be available at banks both to businesses 
and the general public as from 3 December 2007. 
ATMs issuing euro only  All ATMs will dispense euro only within 48h as of 
€-day. Commercial banks will dispense only small 
denomination euro banknotes (10- and 20-euro 
banknotes) from ATMs as from €-day. During the first hour of 1 January 2008, around 70% of each banks' 
ATMs, which includes all machines operating at central 
locations, will dispense  only euro banknotes. The 
remaining ATMs will be converted to dispensing only 
euro banknotes at the latest by noon on the same day. 
Change in euro only In general, change will be given in euro, but the 
option of giving change in kroon remains for the 
dual circulation period. The retail sector will be sub -frontloaded with euro coins 
so as to give change in  euro only as from €-day. 
Dual display of prices Compulsory: 6 months before and after €-day. A ccording to the 'Adoption of the Euro 2007 law', the 
dual display of prices will be mandatory from 1 
September 2007 until 30 September 2008. 
Consumer confidence building measures (e.g. 
agreements with retailers) Monitoring of the prices of certain frequently 
consumed goods and services  under the supervision 
of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and 
Communications. 
Leaflets containing information on the euro were 
made available to th e public in summer 2006. The Ministry of Finance is implementing an action plan 
for enhancing consumer c onfidence. The measures 
undertaken include mandatory dual display of prices, the 
establishment of euro observa tories and the introduction 
of the Fair Pricing Code. 
Adaptation of national law Draft Act on the Introduction of the Euro ('umbrella 
law') and draft amendments to the Business Code 
are in the final stage of inter-ministerial 
consultation.  The 'Adoption of the Euro 2007 law' for the introduction 
of the euro was adopted by Parliament on 15 March 
2007. Amendments to this la w were adopted on 21 June 
2007. 
Euro banknotes and coins    
Design of the national side Design selected and published in December 2004. The gove rnment of Cyprus approved the designs for the 
national sides of the euro coins on 22 June 2006. The 
designs were unveiled on 11 October 2006 
Nr of different coin designs One design. Three designs. 
Coin supplier  Coins will be minted by the Finnish Mint which was 
selected through a tender procedure. 
Estimation on the need for 
banknotes and coins 150-200 million coins. 79 million banknotes (value €1730m), 395 million coins 
(value € 100.26m). 
 
SL 19   SL  Estonia Cyprus 
Communication activities    
Communication strategy Endorsed by the National Changeover Committee 
on 21 June 2005 and updated on 18 May 2006. A Comprehensive Strategic Communication Plan for the 
Adoption of the Euro in the Republic of Cyprus was 
approved by the Council of Ministers on 5 April 2006. In 
addition, the Central Bank of Cyprus prepared its own 
euro information campaign plan. Both plans are 
published on the national euro website ( www.euro.cy ). 
The Central Bank’s euro information campaign plan is 
also published on the Bank’s website 
(http://www.centralbank.gov. cy/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=442
5). 
Realisation of the planned communication activities is 
handled by a PR/Advertising agency in close co-
operation with the Ministry of Finance and the Central 
Bank of Cyprus, especially for issues relating to 
consumer confidence bui lding measures and cash 
changeover matters. 
According to the communication campaign plans, the 
campaign will be intensified immediately after the 
abrogation of the derogation, and all events will be 
announced on the national euro website and the Central 
Bank’s website.  
Addresses of websites on euro changeover, activation 
date: Government/Ministry 
of Finance; Central Bank www.euro.eesti.ee
, launched in January 2006. www.euro.cy , activated on 31 May 2006 as part of the 
communication campaign's official kick-off event. Other 
government websites provide links to the changeover 
website. The Central Bank's website 
(www.centralbank.gov.cy) also provides information and 
links regarding the changeover.  
On 11 June 2007, a free telephone line has been 
launched.  
Partnership agreement Signed 8 November 2005. Signed on 5 May 2006. 
Other issues    
ERM II entry 28 June 2004 2 May 2005 
Twinning agreement  Between IE – MT – CY: communication and information 
strategy (finalised); between GR – CY: technical issues 
related to the changeover. 
 
 
SL 20   SL State of practical preparations (June 2007) 
 
 Latvia Lithuania 
Changeover plan   
National target date for 
euro adoption  The specific target date has not been set. The specific target date has not been set. According to 
the government, Lithuania will aim to join the euro area 
as soon as possible and the more favourable period for 
Lithuania to join the euro area starts from 2010.  
National co-ordinating institution The Steering Committee for the preparation and co-
ordination of the euro changeover was 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 Implementation of the 
Single European Currency on 1 November 2005, and the 
first draft of Latvia's National Euro Changeover Plan on 
28 February 2006 (Government  Order No 148, 6 March 
2006). The second version of the National Changeover Plan was 
approved by the government on 25 April 2007 and 
published:  
http://www3.lrs.lt/pls/inter 3/dokpaieska.showdoc_l?p_id
=296518&p_query=&p_tr2= (Translation is under 
preparation and will be posted on www.euro.lt)  
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 after €-day free of charge; the Bank 
of Latvia will exchange wit hout time limit free of charge.Commercial banks: free of charge for 60 days after €-
day. Central bank: free of ch arge for an unlimited period.
Campaign for rapid 
withdrawal of national 
banknotes and coins Not envisaged due to the high nominal value of coins in 
Latvia and their intensive us e in day-to-day payments. Consumers will be encouraged to deposit cash with 
banks as early as possible. 
Frontloading and sub-frontloading Frontloading to banks starts one month before €-day 
(1 December), sub-frontloading two weeks before €-day 
(15 December) - (precondition: euro banknotes and coins 
may not be publicly circulated before €-day). 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 will dispense euro banknotes only.  As from €-day ATMs will dispense euro banknotes. 
Change in euro only After the end of the dual circulation period.  Recommendation to give change in euro only. 
 
SL 21   SL  Latvia Lithuania 
Dual display of prices Compulsory three months from before until one year 
after €-day. Compulsory: 120 calendar days before €-day until 120 
days after €-day; voluntary: recommendation to use dual 
display as early as possible after the fixing of the 
conversion rate. 
Consumer confidence 
building measures (e.g. 
agreements with 
retailers) Monitoring of price developments in the retail trade, 
verification of the accuracy of price displays and 'fair 
trader' campaign envisaged. Business organisations will be  encouraged to adopt a 
Code of Good Business Practice (on correct conversion, 
no price increases etc.); enterprises committing 
themselves will be authorised  to use the special logo of 
the Code. 
Adaptation of national law 'Umbrella law' on basic provisions for the euro 
changeover in Latvia is currently being prepared. All 
ministries are involved in re viewing national legislation 
to identify the necessary amendments and new 
legislation required. A Law on the Adoption of the Euro has been drafted 
(rules on conversion and excha nge of the litas to the 
euro, withdrawal of litas fro m circulation, publication of 
the images of notes and coins, redenomination of 
securities, dual display of prices etc.). The law will be 
adopted once the decision to lift the derogation has been 
taken.  
All existing legal acts that need to be adapted with a 
view to the euro were identified by December 2005.  
Euro banknotes and coins    
Design of the national 
side 
 In process. 
 Approved. 
Nr of different coin 
designs Four designs. Three designs. 
Coin supplier Coins will be minted abroad followi ng a call for tender. Lithuanian Mint. 
Estimation on the need 
for banknotes and coins 87 million banknotes and 300 million coins. Estimation of 118 million banknotes and 290 million 
coins has been made on the condition that the euro will 
be introduced on 1 January 2007. 
Communication activities    
Communication 
strategy 'Communication strategy for the euro changeover in 
Latvia' approved by the Steering Committee of Latvia's 
euro implementation proj ect on 12 April 2006. The 'Public information and communication strategy on 
the adoption of the euro of Lithuania' was approved by 
the government on 29 September 2005. The second 
version was approved by the government on 25 April 
2007 and published:  
http://www3.lrs.lt/pls/inter 3/dokpaieska.showdoc_l?p_id
=296518&p_query=&p_tr2= . ( Translation is under 
preparation and will be posted on www.euro.lt)  
 
Addresses of websites 
on euro changeover, 
activation date: 
Ministry of 
Finance/Government; 
Central Bank Planned euro changeover website: www.eiro.lv . A 
working group has been set up to develop the concept of 
this site. 
Updated information on the euro changeover process is 
available on the website of the Ministry of Finance: 
http://www.fm.gov.lv/page.php?id=105. A national website ( www.euro.lt ) was launched in May 
2007. 
Websites of the Bank of Lithuania ( www.lb.lt ) and of the 
Ministry of Finance ( www.finmin.lt ).  
 
SL 22   SL  Latvia Lithuania 
Partnership agreement  Signed on 8 November 2005. 
Other issues    
ERM II entry 2 May 2005 28 June 2004 
Twinning agreement  Between NL – SI – LT: communication and information 
strategy;  
between BE – LT on tax-related questions;  
between BE – LT on departme ntal management related 
to the changeover.  
 
SL 23   SL State of practical preparations (June 2007) 
 
 Hungary Malta 
Changeover plan   
National target date for 
euro adoption  The Convergence Programme of 1 December 2006 aims 
at meeting the Maastricht cr iteria in 2009. A new target 
date for the adoption of the euro has not been specified. 1 January 2008 
National co-ordinating 
institution Preparatory work is ongoing in the Ministry of Finance 
and Magyar Nemzeti Bank (Central Bank of Hungary). Two Committees appointed on 13 June 2005: a Steering 
Committee and a National Euro Changeover Committee 
(NECC) reporting to it. 
(Approved) National 
Changeover Plan  In 2006, the Central Bank prepared a proposal for a 
national changeover plan focusing on its tasks. A 
summary of this proposal was published in October 
2006. The Second Updated Master Plan for the Euro 
Changeover in Malta was adopt ed by the government on 
12 June 2006:  
http://mfin.gov.m t/page.aspx?site=NECC&page=downlo
ads. 
The Third Updated Master Plan for the Euro Changeover 
in Malta was published by the NECC in February 2007: 
http://mfin.gov.m t/page.aspx?site=NECC&page=downlo
ads. 
The 'Final Masterplan' was published by the NECC on 
11 July 2007: 
http://mfin.gov.m t/page.aspx?site=NECC&page=downlo
ads. 
Changeover details   
Type of scenario "Big bang".  "Big bang". 
Dual circulation period  One month. January 2008. 
Exchange of national 
banknotes and coins  Credit institutions and post offices: at least during the 
dual circulation period.  
Magyar Nemzeti Bank: in the case of banknotes for 20 
years and in the case of coins for 5 years after the end of 
the dual circulation period. As from 2 January 2008, credit institutions will exchange 
Maltese lira notes and coins into euro notes and coins, 
free of charge for their clients and up to a 'household 
amount' of MTL 250 for non-bank clients. In the case of 
bank clients, exchange amounts of more than 250 MTL 
may be subject to a ‘2 day’ notice period. For both notes 
and coins, free exchange is planned to be provided until 
the end of March 2008.  
The Central Bank of Malta will continue to exchange 
Maltese lira coins and notes for two years and ten years, 
respectively, after the Maltese lira ceases to be legal 
tender (31 January 2008). All cash exchanges will be 
subject to anti-money- laundering regulations. 
Campaign for rapid 
withdrawal of national 
banknotes and coins  A de-hoarding campaign is planned by the NECC and 
the Central Bank of Malta. The campaign will target the 
general public and specific target groups and unfold as of 
mid-2007 (after the decision lifting Malta's derogation). 
The Currency and Bank Depos its Registration Scheme 
(Amendment) Regulations (Legal Notice 126 of 2007) 
provided an opportunity for the general public and 
businesses to register undeclared income until the end of 
July 2007 
(http://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/ legalnotices/2007/04/LN%2
0126.pdf ). 
 
SL 24   SL  Hungary Malta 
Frontloading and sub-
frontloading  Frontloading to credit institutions is planned to start from 
late September/ea rly October 2007 and sub-frontloading 
by credit institutions to businesses and other cash 
handlers is planned to start from 1 December 2007. 
As from 1 December 2007, credit institutions will 
exchange Maltese lira into euro, and vice versa, at the 
irrevocably fixed conversi on rate without exchange 
charges. 
Coin starter-kits for businesses (worth € 131) will be 
available at commercial banks from 1 December 2007, 
while mini-kits for the public (worth € 11.65) will be 
available from the banks and authorised channels from 
10 December 2007. In addition, from 1 December 2007 
commercial banks will offer low denomination euro 
notes to the business community (with exchange charges 
waived), subject to availability. 
ATMs issuing euro only   Around 60% of all ATMs (at least one ATM in all major 
localities) will dispense euro banknotes as from 1 
January 2008 at 00:00h, while the remaining ATMs will 
be converted in the course of the same day – 85 to 90% 
by noon and the remaining by 16:00h on 1 January 2008. 
This agreement was reached following a study on 
historic data concerning typical withdrawal cycles on 31 
December 2005 and 2006, to ensure that enough ATMs 
will remain meeting demand requirements for Maltese 
lira notes on 31 December 2007. 
Change in euro only  As from 1 January 2008, all change will be given in 
euro. 
Dual display of prices  Mandatory dual display of prices from the irrevocable 
fixing of the conversion rate until 30 June 2008. 
Voluntary dual display has been promoted by the NECC 
since 1 January 2007. Gove rnment departments and 
agencies have been fully dual display compliant since 
April 2007. 
Consumer confidence 
building measures (e.g. 
agreements with 
retailers)  In order to address consumers'  fears of price increases in 
the changeover period, the government and the NECC 
launched initiatives that inte nd to empower the consumer 
and to prevent the retailer from increasing prices: 
The FAIR (Fair-pricing Agreements in Retailing) 
initiative became effective in January 2007. The 
initiative invites businesses to voluntarily subscribe to 
FAIR and thus to commit themselves to apply correct 
dual display of prices and not to increase prices due to 
the euro changeover. Legislation and enforcement 
measures, including the possibility to impose administrative fines, are in place to ensure that 
businesses honour their commitments. The FAIR 
initiative receives positive feedback from the business 
community, with well ove r 5 000 businesses having 
subscribed to it so far. 
The Euro Observatory, which was established in the last 
quarter of 2006, is in charge of co-ordinating the FAIR 
initiative and of monitoring pricing trends during the 
changeover period. Moreover, 70 Euro Assistants are 
responsible for providing support and training to the 
retail sector, with a view to ensuring that the rules on 
dual display of prices are correctly applied and that the 
commitments undertaken by businesses under the FAIR 
initiative are honoured.  
 
SL 25   SL  Hungary Malta 
A 'Price Watch' Initiative is being conducted. A twinning 
agreement is well underway with the former Austrian 
Price Commission, where one of the main deliverables of 
the agreement was the planning and starting up of this 
initiative. 
A series of anonymous 'mystery shopping' exercises are 
being conducted. The results of the shopping exercises 
are being analysed with a view to publishing sector 
specific pricing trends, as well  as specific cases of high 
price increases over the changeover period. 
Adaptation of national law  The Euro Adoption Act 2006 entered into force on 29 
September 2006. Legal Notice 4 of 2007, issued in 
January 2007, mainly regulates details of the mandatory 
dual display of prices. 
 
Euro banknotes and coins    
Design of the national 
side  The three designs for the national sides of the Maltese 
euro coins were selected fo llowing a public consultation; 
the final designs were publis hed by the Central Bank on 
13 October 2006. 
Nr of different coin designs  Three designs. 
Coin supplier National Mint. As Malta does not have a national mint, the Maltese euro 
coins will be produced by the Monnaie de Paris, the mint 
chosen following a public call for tenders 
Estimation on the need for banknotes and coins 0,5 billion banknotes and 1 billion coins. Estimated 80 million euro notes. 
Estimated 200 million euro coins. 
Communication activities    
Communication 
strategy  'Multi-annual communication strategy in preparation for 
the adoption of the euro (2006-2008)' adopted by the 
Steering Committee for the adoption of the euro on 19 
April 2006. 
The NECC has prepared a detailed action plan for 2006 
and 2007 including a significant information campaign 
reaching specific target groups, such as consumers, the 
business community, children, the elderly and vulnerable 
groups. It has recruited a team of information officers to 
assist the general public and has also launched a national 
helpline to assist the different target groups. 
The NECC launched its information campaign in June 
2006. The NECC unveiled the slogan 'the euro – in our 
common interest' and launched a three-digit helpline 
which has proven popular among the general public. The 
campaign includes public relations initiatives, articles on 
national newspapers and maga zines and an advertising 
campaign. The team of information officers is also 
constantly participating in television and radio 
programmes as well as givi ng public talks to NGOs, 
local councils and other important multipliers. A specific 
campaign targeting businesses in planned in autumn. 
 
SL 26   SL  Hungary Malta 
Addresses of websites 
on euro changeover, 
activation date: 
Ministry of 
Finance/Government; 
Central Bank www.euro.mnb.hu (activated in December 2006) NECC: http://www.euro.gov.mt 
Central Bank of Malta: 
http://www.centralbankmalta .com/site/euroadoption.html
Ministry of Finance: http://mfin.gov.mt 
Partnership agreement  Signed on 5 May 2006. 
Other issues    
ERM II entry  2 May 2005 
Twinning agreement Between AT and HU: communication and information 
strategy (finalised) Between IE – MT – CY: co mmunication and information 
strategy (finalised). 
Between AT-MT: establishing procedures around price 
monitoring and analysis, as well as measures for building 
up price awareness and consumer confidence in the 
changeover period. 
Between FR-MT: The main objective of this twinning is 
to build the NECC’s capacity, enabling it to educate and 
provide public and consumer in formation. This includes: 
Study visits to learn about the challenges posed by 
changeover in euro zone countries; 
Training in communication with 
vulnerable/disadvantaged groups; 
Training in Six Sigma Methodology; 
Training to euro assistants on how to inform and educate 
retailers; 
Cooperation with representativ es of sectoral committees 
and task forces; 
Support to the business awareness campaign; 
Training on broadcasting. 
 
SL 27   SL State of practical preparations (June 2007) 
 
 Poland Romania 
Changeover plan    
National target date for 
euro adoption   2014 
National co-ordinating 
institution Inter-institutional working gr oup Ministry of Finance / 
national central bank. 
Note:  The national central bank established the 'Bureau 
for the Integration with the Euro Area', the main task of 
which is to prepare a report on Poland's membership in 
the euro area. The report, which is planned to be 
finalised by the end of 2008, will notably define the 
optimal conditions for the adop tion of the euro in Poland 
and provide guidance for decisions taken in the 
process of the adoption of the euro  
(Approved) National 
Changeover Plan   
Changeover details    
Type of scenario   
Dual circulation period   
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   
Dual display of prices   
Consumer confidence 
building measures (e.g. 
agreements with 
retailers)   
Adaptation of national   
 
SL 28   SL  Poland Romania 
law 
Euro banknotes and coins    
Design of the national 
side 
 Public survey.  
Nr of different coin 
designs   
Coin supplier National Mint.  
Estimation on the need 
for banknotes and coins Between 4 and 5 billion coins.  
Communication activities    
Communication 
strategy   
Addresses of websites 
on euro changeover, 
activation date: 
Government/Ministry 
of Finance; 
Central Bank   
Partnership agreement   
Other issues    
ERM II entry   
Twinning agreement Between DE – PL: communi cation and information 
strategy and practical issues.  
 
 
SL 29   SL State of practical preparations (June 2007) 
 
 Slovakia Sweden 
Changeover plan    
National target date for 
euro adoption  1 January 2009 Not decided. 
National co-ordinating 
institution The National Coordination Committee is the supreme 
managing and coordination body preparing the euro 
changeover. It is chaired by the Minister of Finance 
(being the National Coordinator for the changeover) and 
the Governor of the Bank of Slovakia.  
(Approved) National 
Changeover Plan  The first version of the National Changeover Plan was 
approved on 6 July 2005. On 21 March 2007, the 
government endorsed an update of this plan : 
http://www.nbs.sk/EURINT/EURO/NP_AKT.PDF  
(Slovak)  
http://www.nbs.sk/ZAKLNBS/PUBLIK/BROZURY/N
ARPLANA.PDF  (English).   
Changeover details    
Type of scenario "Big bang".  
Dual circulation period  16 days.  
Exchange of national 
banknotes and coins Commercial banks exchange banknotes until end 2009 
and coins until June 2009 (free of charge). The Central 
Bank exchanges banknotes w ithout time limit and coins 
for 5 years.  
Campaign for rapid 
withdrawal of national 
banknotes and coins   
Frontloading and sub-
frontloading Commercial banks will be able to receive from the 
National Bank of Slovakia frontloaded supplies of euro 
coins from September 2008 and supplies of euro 
banknotes from mid-November 2008. The sub-
frontloading of the retail sector will take place in 
November to December 2008.   
ATMs issuing euro only  As of €-day ATMs will dispense euro only.  
Change in euro only Change will be given in euro only.  
Dual display of prices Compulsory: from one month after the fixing of the 
conversion rate to one year after euro adoption. 
Voluntary: for further 6 months.  
 
SL 30   SL  Slovakia Sweden 
Consumer confidence 
building measures (e.g. 
agreements with 
retailers) Evolution of prices in 2008 and 2009 will be closely 
monitored; consumers will be informed of the results; 
consumers can raise complain ts with supervisory bodies 
or apply to the courts; volunt ary ethical code has been 
drafted with retailers and entrepreneurs. 
With the aim of facilitating the euro changeover for 
citizens and of protecting them  against unjustified price 
increases, the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak 
Republic prepared a 'White Paper on Consumer 
Protection in the euro changeover process'.  
Adaptation of national 
law 'Umbrella law' is planned to be adopted by the end of 
2007 so that it could be effective from 1 January 2008. 
The necessary amendments to  existing legislation have 
been identified by January 2006 and are envisaged to be 
adopted in 2008 at the latest.  
Euro banknotes and coins    
Design of the national 
side 
 Final design of the national side for the euro coins was 
chosen by public tender followed by an opinion poll and 
announced in December 2005. Slightly revised designs 
were approved in April 2007.  
Nr of different coin 
designs Three designs.  
Coin supplier National Mint.  
Estimation on the need 
for banknotes and coins 188 million banknotes, 400 million coins.  
Communication activities    
Communication 
strategy Communication strategy on the euro introduction in the 
Slovak Republic is part of the National Changeover 
Plan.  
Addresses of websites 
on euro changeover, 
activation date: 
Government/Ministry 
of Finance;  
Central Bank http://www.nbs.sk/EURI NT/EURO/INDEX.HTM  
http://www.nbs.sk/MEDZ INAR/EU/INDEXA.HTM  
http://www.finance.gov .sk/En/Default.aspx  
www.euro.gov.sk   
www.euromena.sk    
Partnership agreement   
Other issues    
ERM II entry 28 November 2005  
 
SL 31   SL  Slovakia Sweden 
Twinning agreement Between AU – SK: communication and information 
strategy (finalised); 
Between BE – SK: technical issues related to the 
changeover (finalised).  
 
 
SL 32   SL ANNEX  3 
Euro coins designs of the future nation al sides of Slovakia, Malta and Cyprus  
Cyprus 
 
  
  
2 euro, 1 euro 50 cent, 20 cent, 10 cent 5 cent, 20 cent, 1 cent 
Malta 
 
  
  
2 euro, 1 euro 50 cent, 20 cent, 10 cent 5 cent, 20 cent, 1 cent 
Slovakia  
 
  
  
2 euro, 1 euro 50 cent, 20 cent, 10 cent 5 cent, 20 cent, 1 cent 
 
 
SL 33   SL ANNEX  4 
Information and communication  policy at Community level 
 
The European Commission has continued to implement a whole ra nge of communication 
activities on the euro and EMU in close co-operation with Member States and other Community institutions. In partic ular it continued to implement partnership agreements with a 
number of Member States preparing for the introduction of the euro: Slovenia, Estonia, 
Lithuania, Malta and Cyprus. The partnershi p agreement with Slovenia was successfully 
brought to a close following the introduction of the euro on 1 January 2007, and discussions 
are now at an advanced stage with the Slovak Republic for the conclusion of a new partnership agreement in the second half of the year.  
The purpose of the partnership agreements is to provide technical and fi nancial support to the 
Member States for their national euro communication campaigns. They provide the 
framework within which the Commission s upports various activities developed by the 
national authorities, such as publications, media campai gns, promotional material, 
conferences and seminars, competitions, opinion  polls, etc. The Comm ission also concluded 
grant agreements in June with Malta and C yprus to co-finance thei r national communication 
activities. 
The Commission has also, since the beginning of the year, conducted on its own account a 
number of activities linked to the enlargemen t of the euro area, such as opinion polls and 
surveys, conferences, and seminars for journalists  both in Brussels and in the Member States. 
It has also produced brochures, posters, CD-R OMS and promotional material for the general 
public
18 and a new website dedicated to the euro.19 Moreover, it has developed a new 
exhibition on the euro and EMU wh ich will travel to various Memb er States, starting in Malta 
in June/July and in Cyprus  after the summer break.  
Preparing citizens in Cyprus and Malta for the euro introduction has be en a priority for the 
Commission's communication policy in the first half of 2007 and will continue to be so for the 
remainder of the year.  
                                                 
18 http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/publications/general/general_en.htm 
19 http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/euro/our_currency_en.htm 
 
SL 34   SL ANNEX  5 
State of public opinion in the recently acceded Member States  
The European Commission commissioned a Eurobarometer survey on public opinion in the 
recently acceded Member States concerning their attitudes towards and knowledge about the introduction of the euro, and Gallup Europe c onducted the survey at  the end of March 2007.
20 
It was the fifth such Eurobarometer survey (following the ones in September 2004 and 2005 as well as in April and September 2006). Sloveni a was no longer covered since it adopted the 
euro on 1 January 2007. Bulgaria and Romania,  however, were covered for the first time, 
having joined the EU on the sa me date. In total, over 11 000 randomly select ed citizens were 
interviewed. 
1. Familiarity with and knowledge about the euro 
The March 2007 results broadly confirm the results of the previous surveys as to familiarity 
and knowledge about the euro. Respondents we re relatively familiar with the common 
currency: 77% had already seen euro banknotes of which some 62% had already used them, 
and 68% had already seen euro coins of which 60% had used them already. The usage of euro 
banknotes and coins was as usual particularly high in the Czech Republic, Cyprus and Malta – and also this time in Romania.  
In addition to these practical aspects, the surv ey also tested the respondents' knowledge of the 
euro's general features. Here the results were mixed. More respondents than  in the last survey 
were aware that the design of banknotes was the same in all countries (50%, up from 45%) 
but fewer people knew about the partly different  designs of euro coins (31%, down from 37% 
in autumn 2006). The enlargement of the euro area to Slovenia unsurpr isingly increased the 
uncertainty as to how many euro-a rea Member States there are. Only 28% of the interviewees 
were able to give the correct  answer of 13 countries (down from 40% in autumn 2006) while 
25% did not know, up from 17% previously. A re latively stable majori ty of citizens (64%, 
previously 67%) in the survey ed countries believed that th eir country had the option of 
deciding whether it would adopt the euro or not. 
Regarding the expected date of  introduction of the eu ro, the results show  a continued shift 
since 2006, corresponding to actual developments. An overwhelming majority in Cyprus and 
Malta expect the euro to be a dopted in those countri es in 2008, which is indeed the official 
national target date, and a strong majority in Slovakia expect eu ro adoption in 2009. The 
absence of national target dates in most other countries results in very divergi ng expectations 
among the population, reflecting the high degree of uncertainty.  
2. Perceptions of and support for the single European currency 
Similarly to previous 2006 findings, citizens in the recently acceded Member States are 
prepared – at least mentally – to have their cu rrency replaced by the euro: 48% were very or 
rather happy about a future changeover, whic h is comparable to April and September 2006. 
The trends vary strongly from one country to an other, with the relative share of citizens happy 
about the euro changeover increasing in five of the eleven recently acceded Member States 
                                                
 
20 Flash Eurobarometer 207.  
 
SL 35   SL compared to the results of the autumn 2006 su rvey. Most notably, the support increased in 
Cyprus by 8 percentage points to  a support rate of 40% and in Malta by 6 percen tage points to 
a support rate of 54%. The level of support in the othe r four countries had slightly decreased 
or remained unchanged from September 2006 ( no comparison can be made in the case of 
Bulgaria and Romania since they were covered here for the first time).  
 Are people happy that the euro will replace their national currency?
23 21 26 24 285964 64 65 64
4/20 079/20 064/2 0069/2 0059 /2 004
Q12.(2 007)/Q 15(2 00 6). Are you per so n ally happy 
or  not tha t  th e e uro c ou ld repl ace  t he 
(NA TIONA L CURRENCY)?CYPRU S
40323949585249
404053
4/20079/200 64/20 069/2 0059/ 20 0 4CZECH REPUBLIC
46 4439333946 475258 55
4/20 079/2 0064 /20069/20059/200 4ESTO NI A
33 32 31242957 57 60 6457
4/ 20 0 79/20064/200 69/200 59/20 04HU NGA RY
49 46564956
3745
35 3733
4/20079/20064/200 69/20 059 /2 004
LI THUANI A
31 32 33253455 53 5669
58
4/20079/200 64/20 069/2 0059 /2004LAT VI A
59
24
4/ 20 0 79/20064/200 69/200 59/20 04MAL TA
40 4148 49
425448
41 4133
4 /2 0079/20064/200 69/200 59/20 04POLAND
46 49
42 41403450 49
3954
4/200 79/20 064/2 0069 /20059/2004
SLOVAKIA
57 5550
36 36424254 50
36
4/20079/200 64/20 069/2 0059/ 20 0 4% very and rather happy % very and rather unhappy
45
334/20079/200 64/20 069/20059/2004BU LGARIA ROMANIA
 
Generally, citizens expect that the euro will be more positive for their country than for 
themselves as individuals. 53% (u p from 50% in autumn 2006) think that it will have a rather 
or very positive effect for the country. 48% (up from 44%) expect very or rather positive 
consequences for themselves personally. Only 24% of the respondents w ould like the euro to 
become their currency as soon as possible.  
3. Expectations and fears regardi ng the adoption of the euro 
The September results broadly confirm previous surveys as regards citizens' expectations of 
the euro. There is still a broadly shared recogn ition in the recently acceded Member States of 
the euro’s status as an international curre ncy and that there are a number of benefits 
associated with their countr y's adoption of the euro.  
The questionnaire was changed this time to differe ntiate more clearly be tween expectations of 
one-off changeover effects in the short term, and expectations of medium- and long-term 
effects on prices. Thus, while in  the previous survey only 28% believed that the euro would 
help maintain price stability, this time 55% id entified ensuring price stability as one of the 
main advantages of the euro. On the other ha nd, the survey sends a clear message about the 
fears during the changeover period: 75% thought th at the euro will increas e prices when first 
introduced. 
 
SL 36   SL Regarding the euro's economic or political e ffects, respondents gene rally acknowledge that 
positive effects will appear in the area of public finances (46%, +2). Citizens also seem to be 
more positive about the impact of  the euro on growth and employment: now 43% (+3) think it 
will improve the situation in this area while 36% (-3) think it will have a negative effect.  
4. Information and information channels 
The results of the March 2007 survey reveal a slight decrease in th e perceived information 
level on average. 37% of the respondents thought th at they were rather or  very well informed 
(40% in autumn 2006) while 61% think they ar e not (up from 58%). This is due both to 
Slovenia, which had a very high level of per ceived information, no lo nger being covered by 
the survey, and a significant fall in the figure fo r Poland. For all other countries, the perceived 
information level remained stable or increase d. The increase was most conspicuous in Malta 
(+33) and in Cyprus (+14) where the national information campaigns for euro adoption in 
2008 are at full speed or have recently been intensified, though there was also a notable 
increase in Slovakia. The resu lts suggest that the demand for information, which increases as 
the adoption date approaches , is still considerable.  
As in past surveys, national central banks are the most trusted source of information: an 
average of 79% (autumn 2006: 77%) thought so. Eu ropean institutions were again perceived 
as the second most trusted source (results bei ng slightly higher than in September 2006: 69% 
relative to 67%). As to which information channels were preferred, most respondents 
continued to prefer mass media and banks; and, as  regards the type of information they were 
looking for, they were mainly interested in practical information on the introduction of the euro, e.g. the value of the euro (90%), the ch angeover scenario (87%),  practical implications 
(85%), and how to ensure that conversion rule s are respected (83%). The survey confirms 
once more that that the public consider an esse ntial element in preparing for the changeover to 
be the dual display of prices, both in shops (83%) and on utility bills (75%).