Lithuanian PM expects more euro optimists

Feb 19, 2013

VILNIUS - After a public relations campaign the numbers of those wishing to have the euro in Lithuania will increase, thinks Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius.

In an interview with the national radio on Tuesday, the PM said that currently over 50 percent of residents are in favor of introducing the euro, however, the rate should grow after the PR campaign.

"Today a total of 52 percent are in favor of adopting the euro in Lithuania. However, we have a certain action plan which will involve several institutions that will be engaged not only in forming fiscal policy and in administrative issues but also will have to present the euro to society," Butkevicius said.

Lithuania aims at introducing the new currency in 2015.

In order to adopt the euro, Lithuania must comply with the Maastricht Treaty's criteria. It means that Lithuania's fiscal deficit may not exceed 3 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP), the government's debt may not exceed 60 percent of an annual GDP, etc.

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