Euro experts

Experts from Malta could help Slovakia with euro adoption, from Slovakia Today:

..Earlier on Saturday, at the beginning of his visit, Robert Fico met with Maltese Premier Lawrence Gonzi. Mutual discussion of both leaders focused mostly on issues connected to the transfer of the home currency to the euro. Malta entered the euro zone on January 1 of this year, and, according to Fico, Slovakia could benefit from the island's experience with the transfer. "We know very well that people in Malta worked very hard in 2007 to prepare the country for the euro. Therefore Slovakia would welcome one or two experts, who could help us and provide our experts with their experience," said Fico at a joint press conference after the talks.

"We exchanged experience and I had a chance to explain to the premier the drawn-out three-year process, during which we prepared our economy and clarified problems connected to the transfer to our people," said Gonzi.

Fico said he was mostly interested in Malta's experience with measures applied to stop unsubstantiated price increases after the euro adoption. "The government isn't responsible only for the fulfilment of the Maastricht criteria. Its responsibility also lies in application of measures, which would guarantee that the conversion from the koruna to the euro will be favourable not only for businesses and the state, but mainly for citizens," underlined Slovak premier.

Fico invited Gonzi for an early visit to Slovakia, while at the same time he said that Gonzi will have the opportunity in January next year too, when Slovakia should celebrate its successful entry into the euro zone.