Anonymous
|
# Posted: 8 Jan 2009 15:23
Reply
WARSAW, Jan 8 (Reuters)
Poland will press ahead with its ambitious euro adoption plans even without the conservative opposition's support and will soon start talks with the European Union on the issue, a deputy finance minister said on Thursday.
Investors and analysts have so far been skeptical about the government's drive to join the euro zone in 2012, saying it was too risky at a time of global financial crisis, particularly given insufficient political backing and doubts expressed by the central bank governor.
'We are carrying out the euro road map regardless of whether the opposition conservatives agree to the needed constitutional changes or not,' Kotecki said.
To amend the constitution, a key legal step before euro adoption, the government needs the support of at least some members of the main opposition party, the euro skeptical Law and Justice (PiS), which refuses to back the 2012 target.
Poland's constitution says it is the sole right of the National Bank of Poland to issue money and conduct monetary policy. Once in the euro area, the European Central Bank would take over such responsibilities.
Kotecki said the government will also soon start talks with the EU on joining the pre-euro European Exchange Rate (ERM-2) currency grid, in line with a plan presented last October. For a fact box on the map's details, see.
|
