KOMISIJA EVROPSKIH SKUPNOSTI

Bruselj, 10.11.2006 KOM(2006) 671 konč.

SPOROČILO KOMISIJE SVETU, EVROPSKEMU PARLAMENTU, EVROPSKEMU EKONOMSKO-SOCIALNEMU ODBORU, ODBORU REGIJ IN EVROPSKI CENTRALNI BANKI

Četrto poročilo o praktičnih pripravah za prihodnjo širitev euroobmočja

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1. UVOD

Slovenija bo euro To poročilo je četrto v vrsti poročil, ki obravnavajo stanje uvedla 1. januarja praktičnih priprav na nacionalni ravni in na ravni Skupnosti za 2007; Ciper in Malta prihodnjo širitev euroobmočja. Predhodna poročila so bila sta pred kratkim sprejeta novembra 2004, novembra 2005 in junija 20061. sprejela svoja nacionalna načrta za Četrto poročilo je osredotočeno na zadnje dogajanje v zvezi s prehod. praktičnimi pripravami v Sloveniji, ker bo ta država na podlagi odločitve Sveta, da izpolnjuje potrebne pogoje za uvedbo eura, 1. januarja 2007 vstopila v euroobmočje. Posebna pozornost je posvečena tudi pripravam na Cipru in Malti, ki nameravata sprejeti euro 1. januarja 2008. Obe državi sta pred kratkim sprejeli svoja nacionalna načrta za prehod. Poleg tega poročilo obravnava še stanje priprav v ostalih državah članicah in na ravni Skupnosti2.

To poročilo in prejšnja poročila o praktičnih pripravah ne posegajo v konvergenčna poročila Komisije, ki jih določa Pogodba, o tem, ali države članice z odstopanjem izpolnjujejo „maastrichtska“ konvergenčna merila3.

2. STANJE PRIPRAV NA NACIONALNI RAVNI

2.1. Nacionalni ciljni datumi za prevzem eura

Pred kratkim je nekaj Nekaj držav je spremenilo ciljne datume za sprejem eura ali je držav prestavilo ciljni v postopku njihove preučitve zaradi težav pri izpolnjevanju datum za sprejem konvergenčnih meril v skladu s prvotnimi načrti. Estonija je eura prvotno načrtovala uvedbo eura 1. januarja 2007. V aprilu 2006 je vlada ciljni datum prestavila na 1. januar 2008. Estonska vlada bo jeseni 2006 ocenila ustreznost tega ciljnega datuma. Tudi Litva je prvotno načrtovala prevzem eura za 1. januar 2007. Vendar je Komisija v konvergenčnem poročilu, ki ga je sprejela 16. maja 2006, ugotovila, da država ne izpolnjuje potrebnih pogojev za prevzem eura. Oktobra 2006 je litovska vlada sklenila, da „si bo Litva prizadevala čim prej pridružiti

euroobmočju. Ugodnejše obdobje za pridružitev Litve euroobmočju se bo začelo leta 2010.“ Latvijske oblasti so

1 COM(2004) 748 z dne 10. novembra 2004; COM(2005) 545 z dne 4. novembra 2005; COM(2006) 322 z dne 22. junija 2006. 2 Od leta 2007 bo euroobmočje tvorilo 13 držav članic EU, medtem ko se bo po pristopu Bolgarije in Romunije skupno število držav članic EU povečalo na 27. Z izjemo Danske in Združenega kraljestva, ki imata možnost „nesodelovanja“, ima preostalih 12 držav status „države članice z odstopanjem“, od njih pa se pričakuje, da bodo sprejele euro, ko izpolnijo potrebne pogoje. 3 Zadnji konvergenčni poročili Komisije sta bili sprejeti 16. maja 2006 na zahtevo Litve (COM(2006) 223) in Slovenije (COM(2006) 224). Naslednje redno konvergenčno poročilo bo Komisija izdala do konca leta 2006.

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spomladi 2006 naznanile, da bodo preložile prvotni ciljni datum (1. januar 2008). O novem ciljnem datumu se še niso odločile. Češka vlada je oktobra 2006 sklenila preklicati prvotni ciljni datum za to državo (1. januar 2010), ne da bi določila novega. Tudi Madžarska je kot ciljni datum za sprejem eura prvotno določila 1. januar 2010, a ga je v letu 2006 preklicala.

Slovaška je ohranila svoj prvotni ciljni datum in namerava uvesti euro 1. januarja 2009. Poljska in Švedska še nista predložili ciljnega datuma. Na Švedskem so priprave zastale zaradi negativnega izida referenduma 14. septembra 2003.

Tabela prikazuje trenutno situacijo. Datum uvedbe eura Država članica 1. januar 2007 Slovenija Ciljni datum uvedbe eura Država članica 1. januar 2008 Estonija (treba ga je potrditi), Ciper, Malta 1. januar 2009 Slovaška Treba ga je (ponovno) določiti Češka, Latvija, Litva, Madžarska, Poljska, Švedska

2.2. PRIPRAVE V SLOVENIJI

2.2.1. Splošni okvir

Priprave v Slovenija Slovenija bo euro sprejela 1. januarja 2007 v okviru scenarija dobro napredujejo, takojšnje uvedbe, t.i. „velikega poka“4, s 14-dnevnim obdobjem čeprav so potrebni dvojnega obtoka5. dodatni ukrepi za okrepitev zaupanja Na splošno se zdi, da je Slovenija dobro pripravljena na uvedbo potrošnikov v eura. V zadnjih nekaj mesecih je država dosegla nadaljnji stabilno in pošteno napredek pri praktičnih pripravah za uvedbo eura, zlasti kar oblikovanje cen med zadeva zamenjavo gotovine. Potrebni pa so dodatni ukrepi za prehodom. okrepitev zaupanja potrošnikov, kot je celovita strategija za pošteno oblikovanje cen, o kateri bi se dogovorili potrošniki in trgovci na drobno.

2.2.2. Finančni sektor in podjetja

4 V skladu s scenarijem „velikega poka“ uvedba eurobankovcev in eurokovancev sovpada z uvedbo eura kot valute v zadevni državi članici. 5 Obdobje dvojnega obtoka je obdobje, ki se začne na dan, ko se dajo v obtok eurobankovci in eurokovanci (dan uvedbe eura) in v katerem sta nacionalna valuta in euro zakoniti plačilni sredstvi v zadevni državi članici.

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Trgovci na drobno Od prejšnjega poročila iz junija 2006 so bili predloženi morajo od 1. januarja nadaljnji podatki o preddobavi in posredni preddobavi 2007 vračati drobiž eurogotovine6 Banka Slovenije je sklenila pogodbe s izključno v eurih. poslovnimi bankami, v katerih so določeni pogoji preddobave. Določen je podroben načrt za dobavo eurobankovcev in eurokovancev. Število mini paketov kovancev, ki bodo javnosti od 15. decembra 2006 dostopni na poslovnih bankah, se je s 150 000 povečalo na 450 000. Poleg tega je predvidenih 150 000 začetnih paketov kovancev za trgovce na drobno, ki bodo na voljo od 1. decembra 2006, ter 100 000 zbirk eurokovancev s slovenskimi nacionalnimi stranmi, namenjenih predvsem zbirateljem.

Približno 30 % od 1 510 javno dostopnih bankomatov naj bi bilo prilagojenih do 00.30 ure in približno 80 % do 6. ure 1. januarja 2007, ostalih 20 % pa naj bi bilo prilagojenih do polnoči istega dne.

Zaradi olajšane menjave nacionalne gotovine v eurogotovino so se slovenske poslovne banke dogovorile, da bodo 1. in 2. januarja 2007 odprle 42 poslovalnic po vsej državi. Seznam teh poslovalnic in njihov delovni čas bosta pravočasno objavljena.

V skladu z osnutkom zakona o uvedbi eura bodo morala podjetja, zlasti trgovci na drobno, in javni organi od 1. januarja 2007 vračati drobiž izključno v eurih.

2.2.3. Javna uprava

Proizvodnja Osnutek zakona o uvedbi eura je bil predložen parlamentu julija slovenskih kovancev 2006 in naj bi bil sprejet jeseni 2006. Določil bo predvsem poteka. predpise o prehodu na euro, obdobju dvojnega obtoka, menjavi tolarskih bankovcev in kovancev v eurogotovino in

redenominaciji vrednostnih papirjev.

Slovenija je na podlagi javnega razpisa za proizvodnjo svojih eurokovancev izbrala finsko kovnico7. Proizvodnja se je začela po sprejetju Odločbe Sveta z dne 11. julija 2006 o preklicu odstopanja za Slovenijo.

Kar zadeva zaščito eura pred ponarejanjem v Sloveniji, so bili v okviru organov pregona ustanovljeni nacionalni osrednji urad ter nacionalni centri za analizo ponarejenih eurobankovcev in eurokovancev. Slovenski strokovnjaki sodelujejo v ustreznih skupinah na evropski ravni, in sicer pri ECB, Europolu in

6 Preddobava pomeni dobavo eurobankovcev in eurokovancev kreditnim ustanovam s strani nacionalnih centralnih bank pred uvedbo eurogotovine. Posredna preddobava pomeni dobavo teh eurobankovcev in eurokovancev prodajalcem na drobno in drugim podjetjem ter po možnosti tudi širši javnosti s strani kreditnih institucij. 7 Glede objave nacionalnih strani slovenskih eurokovancev glej UL C 254, 20.10.2006, str. 6.

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Komisiji/OLAF-u, udeležili pa so se tudi ustreznega usposabljanja.

2.2.4. Potrošniki in javnost

Slovenski potrošniki Komisija je v svojem Tretjem poročilu sklenila, da so v se bojijo povišanja Sloveniji potrebni dodatni ukrepi za okrepitev zaupanja cen potrošnikov v stabilno in pošteno oblikovanje cen med prehodom. Rezultati zadnje raziskave Eurobarometra, ki je bila opravljena septembra 2006, so potrdili, da se velika večina vprašanih v Sloveniji (66 % v primerjavi s 70 % v aprilu 2006) boji povišanja cen ob prehodu na euro8.

Zlasti pomembno je, da se med trgovci na drobno in potrošniki sklenejo dogovori o poštenem oblikovanju cen med prehodom. Trgovci na drobno bi se morali zavezati, da bodo prehod izvedli pošteno in da ga ne bodo izkoristili kot priložnost za prikrito ali nepregledno povišanje cen. Zaveza glede poštenega oblikovanja cen ima obliko dogovora ali kodeksa ravnanja na nacionalni ali panožni ravni, podpišejo pa ga predstavniške organizacije prodajalcev na drobno in potrošnikov. Posamezni prodajalci na drobno imajo možnost, da pristopijo k dogovoru. Da bi se zagotovila verodostojnost in da ne bi prišlo do zlorabe cen, bi bilo poleg dogovorov o poštenem oblikovanju cen potrebno tudi neodvisno spremljanje cen v mesecih prehoda. Očitne primere kršitve bi bilo treba javno objaviti. Poudariti je treba, da pošteno oblikovanje cen ne pomeni zamrznitve cen, niti ni njegov cilj oblikovati tog sistem zakonskih zavez in upravnih izvršilnih ukrepov.

2.2.5. Informiranje

Informacijska V okviru partnerskega sporazuma, sklenjenega z Evropsko kampanja je trenutno komisijo 8. novembra 2005, je slovenska informacijska osredotočena na kampanja (september 2006–januar 2007) trenutno osredotočena oglaševanje v na oglaševanje v nacionalnih in regionalnih sredstvih javnega sredstvih javnega obveščanja. Pripravljajo se televizijski in radijski oglasi, obveščanja. časopisni oglasi, spletni oglasi, oglasi pred filmi v kinodvoranah in igre na spletu. V novembru in decembru 2006 bosta vsem gospodinjstvom razdeljeni dve publikaciji o prehodu na euro. Na zahtevo bodo na voljo tudi druge publikacije, kot so plakati in letaki. Organizirane bodo predstavitve na sejmih ali v šolah in novinarski dogodki, Komisija pa bo podprla tudi raziskave javnega mnenja.

Slovenija sodeluje v programu medinstitucionalnega sodelovanja z Nizozemsko, da bi spoznala nizozemske izkušnje v zvezi z informiranjem o euru.

8 Glej poglavje 3.

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2.3. Priprave na Cipru in Malti

Turisti na Malti že Ciper in Malta si prizadevata za uvedbo eura 1. januarja 2008. množično Oba sredozemska otoka sta močno odvisna od turizma, pri uporabljajo plačilih majhnih vrednosti pa se redno uporablja eurogotovina, eurogotovino, v zlasti v turističnih območjih. Prostovoljno dvojno označevanje določenem obsegu pa cen v nacionalni valuti in euru je na Malti močno razširjeno, tudi na Cipru. predvsem v turističnih trgovinah, uporabljajo pa ga tudi velike veleblagovnice in turistična središča na Cipru pri izdaji računov.

Ciper je močno finančno središče, kar pomeni, da bo prehod na euro velik logističen izziv za finančni sektor9.

Finančni sektor na Malti je zelo koncentriran. Dve največji kreditni ustanovi glede na vrednost obvladujeta 90 % bančnih računov. Za malteško gospodarstvo je značilen izredno visok znesek nacionalne gotovine (približno 2 789 EUR na prebivalca), kar več kot dvakrat presega povprečje na euroobmočju (1 374 EUR). Zaradi vračanja nacionalne valute v centralno banko in menjave malteških lir v eurogotovino je zato treba posebno pozornost posvetiti organizaciji in logistiki.

2.3.1. Priprave na Cipru

2.3.1.1. Splošni okvir

Ciprski nacionalni Vlada je 13. julija 2006 odobrila nacionalni načrt za prehod. načrt za prehod je v Pripravil ga je nacionalni svetovalni odbor, ki je odgovoren za več pogledih še vedno usklajevanje nacionalnih priprav za uvedbo eura. Ciprska nedodelan. centralna banka je junija 2006 objavila načrt za prehod. Ciper načrtuje scenarij „velikega poka“ z enomesečnim obdobjem dvojnega obtoka.

Na splošno ciprski nacionalni načrt za prehod zajema večino praktičnih vprašanj, povezanih z uvedbo eura. Potrebni pa so dodatni ukrepi za okrepitev zaupanja potrošnikov v stabilno oblikovanje cen v obdobju prehoda, kot je celovita strategija za pošteno oblikovanje cen, o kateri bi se dogovorili potrošniki in trgovci na drobno. Poleg tega je nacionalni načrti za prehod v več pogledih še vedno nedodelan in več pomembnih elementov je treba podrobneje opredeliti (na primer preddobavo in posredno preddobavo, organizacijo vračanja nacionalne gotovine, dvojno označevanje cen itd.).

2.3.1.2. Finančni sektor in podjetja

9 Ciper ima 400 kreditnih ustanov s približno 500 poslovalnicami. Število bančnih računov na prebivalca (2,90) presega povprečje v euroobmočju (1,59) za 82 %. Vir: ECB, Modra knjiga.

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Potek preddobave je Ciprska centralna banka naj bi poslovnim bankam dobavljala treba podrobneje eurobankovce in eurokovance od oktobra do decembra 2007. razdelati. Poleg tega bodo banke podjetjem in zlasti trgovcem na drobno zagotovile eurogotovino pred dnevom uvedbe eura, tako da

bodo lahko od 1. januarja 2008 vračali drobiž izključno v eurih. Podjetja in javnost bodo imeli na voljo vnaprej pripravljene začetne pakete kovancev z ustrezno strukturo apoenov za začetniško poslovanje. O podrobnostih, vključno s časovnim razporedom preddobave, se bo še odločalo.

Poslovne banke bodo v poslovanju s strankami eurogotovino izročale šele od 1. januarja 2008. Kar zadeva prilagoditev bankomatov po državi, trenutni načrt določa, da bodo bankomati na začetku izročali bankovce za 10, 20 in 50 eurov. Predvideti je treba zamenjavo bankovcev za 50 eurov z bankovci za 5 eurov, zlasti v začetni fazi gotovinskega prehoda. Tako se bo zmanjšala količina drobiža, ki ga morajo prodajalci na drobno vračati v gotovinskem poslovanju.

Načrtuje se kampanja, s katero naj bi državljane prepričali, da zaloge stare valute položijo v banki ali jih pravočasno porabijo pred dnevom uvedbe eura.

Ciprska centralna banka bo nacionalne kovance brezplačno zamenjavala do konca leta 2009, nacionalne bankovce pa do konca leta 2017. Poslovne banke bodo morale do 30. junija 2008 brezplačno zamenjavati ciprske funte v bankovcih do zneska 1 000 CYP na stranko na transakcijo in v kovancih do zneska 50 CYP na stranko na transakcijo. Posamezne banke lahko za lastne transakcije zvišajo te zgornje meje. To podaljšano obdobje brezplačne zamenjave v poslovnih bankah pošilja javnosti nejasno sporočilo, lahko pa bi tudi podaljšalo gotovinski prehod. Bilo bi bolj zaželeno, da se brezplačna zamenjava omeji na obdobje dvojnega obtoka, ker bi tako državljane spodbudili, da čim prej zamenjajo staro valuto.

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2.3.1.3. Javna uprava

Vlada je odobrila tri Ministrstvo za finance usklajuje priprave v javnem sektorju. motive za ciprske Prilagoditev vseh računalniških sistemov, ki jih uporablja javna eurokovance. uprava, naj bi se dokončala do septembra 2007.

Vlada je 22. junija 2006 odobrila tri motive za nacionalne strani eurokovancev (glej Prilogo 3). Ker Ciper nima nacionalne kovnice, bodo eurokovance izdelali v tujini.

Vsi trije organi, odgovorni za zaščito eurobankovcev in eurokovancev pred ponarejanjem (nacionalni osrednji urad ter nacionalni centri za analizo ponarejenih eurobankovcev in eurokovancev), so ustanovljeni v okviru organov pregona. Kar zadeva praktične priprave za zaščito eura, je Ciper sodeloval v programih usposabljanja in v ustreznih skupinah Komisije, ECB in Europola.

2.3.1.4. Potrošniki in javnost

Obvezno dvojno Obveznost označevanja cen v ciprskih funtih in eurih naj bi označevanje cen se začela veljati en mesec po tem, ko bo Svet sprejel odločitev o bo začelo en mesec preklicu odstopanja za Ciper in določil menjalno razmerje. po določitvi Obveznost bo veljala šest mesecev po uvedbi eura. menjalnega razmerja. Kar zadeva zaskrbljenost potrošnikov glede nepoštenega povišanja cen v času pred dnevom uvedbe eura in po njem, nacionalni načrt za prehod določa ustanovitev euroopazovalnic, ki bodo spremljale, ali se dvojno označevanje cen izvaja v skladu z določbami zakona o uvedbi eura na Cipru, ki naj bi bil sprejet konec leta 2006.

2.3.1.5. Informiranje

V okviru partnerskega sporazuma, ki ga je Evropska komisija sklenila s Ciprom 5. maja 2006, bo Komisija izvedla različne dejavnosti informiranja v sodelovanju s ciprskimi organi. Organizirali bodo konferenco na visoki ravni, razstavo in seminar za lokalne novinarje, izdelali bodo publikacije, promocijski material in prenosne stojnice, izvedli pa bodo tudi raziskave javnega mnenja.

2.3.2. Priprave na Malti

2.3.2.1. Splošni okvir

Nacionalni načrt Dne 13. junija 2005 je bil ustanovljen Nacionalni odbor za Malte za prehod se prehod na euro (National Euro Changeover Committee, zdi podroben in NECC), ki je zadolžen za usklajevanje izvajanja prehoda na celovit. euro. Po objavi predhodnega glavnega načrta v januarju 2006 je vlada 12. junija 2006 sprejela „Drugi dopolnjeni glavni načrt za

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prehod na euro na Malti“. To je prvi celovit načrt Malte za prehod, ki podrobno obravnava pomembne vidike. Nekatere vidike je treba dodatno opredeliti (na primer časovni razpored preddobave in posredne preddobave, pospešeno prilagoditev bankomatov, vsebino začetnih paketov, kampanjo proti kopičenju denarja), medtem ko se zdi pristop „postopnega opuščanja“ neutemeljen.

2.3.2.2 Scenarij prehoda

Načrt predvideva scenarij „velikega poka“ z enomesečnim obdobjem dvojnega obtoka. Preučuje se možnost obdobja „postopnega opuščanja“10.

Videti ni nobenih posebnih znakov, ki bi kazali na to, da se določeni sektorji malteškega gospodarstva ne bi mogli spopasti z izzivi scenarija „velikega poka“, zaradi česar obdobje „postopnega opuščanja“ ne bi služilo nobenemu jasnemu namenu in bi se zato zdelo odveč. Poleg tega je treba poudariti, da se bo pri preteklih zneskih mogoče sklicevati na nacionalno valuto tudi po uvedbi eura (na primer v poslovnih poročilih, davčnih napovedih in drugih dokumentih, ki se nanašajo na obdobja pred uvedbo eura).

2.3.2.3. Finančni sektor in podjetja

Šest mesecev pred Od trenutka, ko bo določeno nespremenljivo menjalno razmerje dnevom uvedbe eura (ki bo pomenilo začetek obdobja obveznega dvojnega bodo kreditne označevanja), bodo kreditne ustanove sprejemale ustanove že začele eurobankovce, ki jih bodo njihove stranke položile na račune, sprejemati ki se vodijo v malteških lirah ali eurih, po menjalnem razmerju, eurobankovce po to je brez kakršnih koli menjalnih ali administrativnih menjalnem razmerju pristojbin. Kadar ne bo provizij za polog eurogotovine na in brez pristojbin. račune, ki se vodijo v malteških lirah ali eurih, bi morali biti tudi trgovci na drobno pripravljeni, da od svojih strank sprejmejo gotovinska plačila v eurih po menjalnem razmerju in brez kakršnih koli pristojbin.

Kot naslednji korak se bo dobava eurobankovcev kreditnim ustanovam začela konec oktobra ali v začetku novembra 2007 (konec novembra ali v začetku decembra 2007 za eurokovance). Dobava podjetjem se bo začela 17. decembra 2007 skupaj z razdeljevanjem začetnih paketov kovancev v vrednosti približno 55 MTL (približno 128 EUR) za majhna

10 Scenarij „velikega poka“ z obdobjem „postopnega opuščanja“ je eden od treh možnih scenarijev za uvedbo eura, ki jih predvideva pravni okvir Skupnosti; glej Uredbo Sveta (ES) št. 2169/2005 z dne 21. decembra 2005 o spremembah Uredbe (ES) št. 974/98 o uvedbi eura (UL L 346, 29.12.2005, str. 1). V obdobju „postopnega opuščanja“ se lahko novi pravni instrumenti še vedno sklicujejo na nacionalno valuto v obdobju do enega leta. Zadevna država članica mora omejiti uporabo „postopnega opuščanja“ na določene vrste pravnih instrumentov ali na pravne instrumente, sprejete na določenih področjih.

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podjetja, zlasti trgovce na drobno. Javnosti bodo na voljo mini paketi v vrednosti približno 5 MTL (približno 11,65 EUR).

Poleg tega bodo od 1. decembra 2007 kreditne ustanove začele menjavati malteške lire v euro po nespremenljivem menjalnem razmerju, to je brez kakršnih koli menjalnih pristojbin. Vendar bi morale oblasti državljane opozarjati, da postanejo eurobankovci in eurokovanci zakonito plačilno sredstvo šele na dan uvedbe eura in da se jih pred tem datumom ne sme uporabljati v gotovinskem poslovanju.

Kar zadeva prilagoditev (približno) 150 bankomatov po državi, se trenutno predvideva, da bo od 1. januarja 2008 vsaj en bankomat v vseh večjih krajih izročal eurobankovce in da se bodo od 1. januarja 2008 izročali eurobankovci nižjih vrednosti (eurobankovci za 10 in 20 eurov)11. Potrebni so dodatni ukrepi za zagotovitev celovite in pravočasne prilagoditve vseh bankomatov od dneva uvedbe eura.

Glede na velik obseg gotovine v malteških lirah, ki jih povprečno hranijo malteški državljani, centralna banka in NECC načrtujeta kampanjo za zgodnje vračanje bankovcev in kovancev malteških lir od sredine leta 2007, če bo do takrat sprejeta odločitev o preklicu odstopanja za to državo. Ko malteška lira ne bo več zakonito plačilno sredstvo, bo centralna banka še deset let brezplačno in po menjalnem razmerju odkupovala nacionalne bankovce, kovance pa še dve leti. Kreditne ustanove bodo do konca marca 2008 menjavale bankovce in kovance malteških lir v eurobankovce in eurokovance brezplačno za svoje stranke, za ostale pa do zneska 250 MTL. Tako kot v primeru Cipra bi bilo treba preučiti možnost omejitve brezplačne menjave na obdobje dvojnega obtoka, da bi se izognili podaljševanju gotovinskega prehoda.

Da bi podjetjem pomagali pri pripravah na prehod, je NECC objavil „Kontrolni seznam prehoda na euro za poslovne organizacije“, ki ga dopolnjuje paket za trgovce na drobno z informacijami o načrtovanju in izvedbi priprav za prehod za trgovce na drobno, europretvornikom in tabelo za pretvorbo, s čimer se oblikujejo primeri dobre prakse.

11 Glej ECB, Modra knjiga.

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2.3.2.4. Javna uprava

Načrtuje se Trije motivi za nacionalne strani malteških eurokovancev so kampanja za zgodnje bili izbrani po javni razpravi. Končne motive je centralna banka vračanje malteških objavila 13. oktobra 2006 (glej Prilogo 3). Ker Malta nima lir. nacionalne kovnice, bodo eurokovance izdelali v kovnici Monnaie de Paris, ki je bila izbrana na podlagi javnega razpisa.

Nacionalni centri za analizo ponarejenih eurobankovcev in eurokovancev so ustanovljeni in delujejo v okviru centralne banke Malte, nacionalni osrednji urad pa deluje v okviru organov pregona. Malta sodeluje z ostalimi državami v okviru ustreznih skupin pri Europolu, ECB in Komisiji/OLAF-u, malteški strokovnjaki pa so se usposabljali med drugim v okviru programa Komisije „Pericles“.

2.3.2.5. Potrošniki in javnost

Trgovine morajo Dvojno označevanje cen v eurih in malteških lirah bo obvezno ločeno označevati vse od 1. julija 2007 (ali od datuma, ko bo določeno provizije za sprejem nespremenljivo menjalno razmerje, če bo to kasneje) do 30. plačila v eurih. junija 2008. Veljalo bo za vse državne ustanove, podjetja, neprofitne organizacije ali druge subjekte za prikazovanje

denarnih zneskov, cen ali vrednosti blaga in storitev, ki jih ponujajo potrošniku. NECC bo od 1. januarja 2007 spodbujal prostovoljno dvojno označevanje cen, objavljene pa so bile tudi smernice za obvezno in prostovoljno dvojno označevanje cen. Določajo predvsem, da mora dvojno označevanje cen temeljiti na menjalnem razmerju, in sicer takoj, ko bo to določeno, ali (pri prostovoljnem označevanju) na centralnem tečaju mehanizma deviznih tečajev (ERM). Vse provizije, ki jih trgovci na drobno zaračunavajo za sprejem plačil v eurih, preden kreditne ustanove odpravijo pristojbine za polog

eurobankovcev, se morajo označevati ločeno od cene v eurih. Kršitve smernic se lahko kaznujejo z denarnimi ali drugimi kaznimi. Čeprav na splošno ni posebne potrebe po uvedbi dvojnega označevanja pred določitvijo menjalnega razmerja, pa to ne drži nujno za države, ki so močno odvisne od turizma, kot sta Ciper in Malta. Tako (prostovoljno) dvojno označevanje se lahko uporabi le v informativne namene ali pa kot znak, da so trgovci na drobno pripravljeni sprejeti plačilo v nacionalni valuti in v eurih. V zvezi s tem malteške smernice prispevajo ne le k enotnemu izvajanju dvojnega označevanja cen v vseh trgovinah, ki se odločijo za prostovoljni pristop, temveč tudi k

preglednosti provizij in zato oblikujejo primer dobre prakse v gospodarstvu, v katerem se dvojno označevanje cen uveljavi že Pobuda FAIR bo pred določitvijo menjalnega razmerja. spodbujala pošteno in

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pregledno Pobuda Nacionalnega odbora za prehod na euro (NECC) FAIR oblikovanje cen blaga (Fair-pricing Agreements In Retailing – Sporazumi o poštenem in storitev v obdobju oblikovanju cen v maloprodaji) se bo začela izvajati 1. januarja prehoda. 2007. Pobuda spodbuja pošteno in pregledno oblikovanje cen blaga in storitev v obdobju prehoda in pomaga potrošnikom, da se seznanijo z novo lestvico vrednosti. Trgovci na drobno in

druga podjetja, ki poslujejo s strankami, bodo pozvani, da pristopijo k pobudi FAIR v okviru Euroopazovalnice12, ki bo usklajevala pobudo FAIR in spremljala njeno izvajanje. Podjetja, ki pristopijo k pobudi FAIR, se zavežejo, da bodo sledila smernicam NECC (na primer glede dvojnega označevanja cen) in izvajala strategijo poštenega oblikovanja cen, kar zlasti pomeni, da ne bodo povišala cen zgolj zaradi uvedbe eura. Pravico bodo imela prikazovati znak za kampanjo FAIR, njihovo osebje, ki dela s strankami, pa se bo lahko udeležilo brezplačnega usposabljanja. Strategija poštenega oblikovanja cen, ki jo podpirajo malteške oblasti in ki temelji na jasnih zavezah in verodostojnem spremljanju, je dragoceno orodje za krepitev zaupanja potrošnikov med obdobjem prehoda. Vlada se je zavezala, da bo denarne zneske v eurih zaokrožala v korist potrošnikov, s čemer bo dajala zgled zasebnemu sektorju.

NECC je ustrezne organizacije pozval, da predložijo inovativne predloge, ki bi lahko okrepili zaupanje potrošnikov med obdobjem prehoda in znatno pomirili zaskrbljenost državljanov glede morebitnih povišanj cen. Predlogi so se sprejemali do 6. oktobra 2006 in so trenutno v postopku ocenjevanja.

2.3.2.6. Informiranje

Malta je začela NECC se je lotil tudi nacionalne informacijske kampanje in izvajati informacijsko uvedel tudi nacionalno telefonsko številko za pomoč in posebne kampanjo o euru. kampanje za različne ciljne skupine (potrošniki, poslovna skupnost, otroci, starejši in ranljive skupine). Za svojo

informacijsko kampanjo je Malta uporabila naslednji slogan: „Euro – v našem skupnem interesu“. Medijska kampanja se je začela izvajati že v letu 2006, vendar bo oglaševalska akcija najbolj intenzivna v zadnjih mesecih leta 2007. V skladu s partnerskim sporazumom, sklenjenim z Evropsko komisijo 5. maja 2006, bo Komisija delno financirala izdelavo nekaterih publikacij, medijske kampanje in plače uradnikov za informiranje.

2.4. Priprave v ostalih državah članicah

V nekaterih državah Češka nacionalna skupina za usklajevanje uvedbe eura je 30.

12 Glej Priporočilo Komisije z dne 23. aprila 1998 o dialogu, spremljanju in informiranju kot pomoči pri prehodu na euro (UL L 130, 1.5.1998, str. 29).

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od prejšnjega junija 2006 sprejela priporočilo vladi glede scenarija za prehod poročila, ki je bilo in ji predlagala, da se odloči za scenarij „velikega poka“. Vlada objavljeno junija je to priporočilo odobrila 25. oktobra 2006. 2006, ni bilo večjega napredka pri Estonija in Litva sta svoji informacijski kampanji izvedli po praktičnih pripravah. sklenitvi partnerskih sporazumov, podpisanih z Evropsko komisijo 8. novembra 2005, vendar je odložitev uvedbe eura upočasnila dejavnosti informiranja. Obe državi trenutno posodabljata in revidirata svoji strategiji obveščanja.

Latvija in Slovaška sta izdelali svoja prva osnutka informacijskih strategij. Junija 2006 so se začele predhodne razprave z namenom sklenitve partnerskih sporazumov s Komisijo, s katerimi bi se podprle informacijske dejavnosti v teh dveh državah.

Na Madžarskem, Poljskem in Švedskem od prejšnjega poročila ni bilo večjega napredka.

V Prilogah 2 in 3 je prikazano stanje na področju praktičnih priprav v ostalih državah članicah.

3. Javno mnenje v novih državah članicah

Najnovejši rezultati Zadnja raziskava Eurobarometra o javnem mnenju v novih potrjujejo državah članicah je bila opravljena septembra13. Rezultati so na povečevanje splošne splošno potrdili večino trendov iz raziskave, opravljene aprila naklonjenosti euru. 2006.

Kar zadeva seznanjenost in poznavanje eura, so rezultati septembrske raziskave zelo podobni rezultatom prejšnjih raziskav. Rezultati, ki se nanašajo na zaznano raven informiranosti, kažejo manjše izboljšanje.

Splošno razpoloženje glede uvedbe eura je še vedno pretežno pozitivno in se je na splošno izboljšalo v primerjavi z letoma 2004 ali 2005, čeprav se je podpora nekoliko zmanjšala v primerjavi z aprilom 2006. Vendar se stanje od države do države izrazito razlikuje (glej diagram). Na splošno 50 % vprašanih iz novih državah članic verjame, da bo imela uvedba eura v povprečju pozitivne posledice za njihovo državo, kar je nekoliko (2 odstotni točki) manj kot aprila 2006.

Septembrski rezultati tudi na splošno potrjujejo rezultate prejšnjih raziskav glede pričakovanj, ki jih imajo ljudje v zvezi z eurom. Čeprav priznavajo oprijemljive koristi za vsakdanje življenje, so njihova pričakovanja glede makroekonomskih in političnih učinkov mešana.

13 http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/flash/fl191_en.pdf.

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Opinions on the replacement of the national currency with the euro

% very and rather happy % very and rather unhappy

CYPRUS CZECH REPUBLIC ESTONIA HUNGARY LITHUANIA

69 64 60 53 52 58 55 58 52 57 57 56 56 58 56 53 49 47 49 46

40 40 39 39 39 44 45 32 33 31 32 33 37 35 34 33 32 29 24 25 9/2004 9/2005 4/2006 9/2006 9/2004 9/2005 4/2006 9/2006 9/2004 9/2005 4/2006 9/2006 9/2004 9/2005 4/2006 9/2006 9/2004 9/2005 4/2006 8/2006

LATVIA MALTA POLAND SLOVENIA SLOVAKIA 72 64 64 64 66 64 59 58 54 55 49 48 48 54 50 49 50 50 42 49

41 40 41 40 41 34 39 41 42 42 36 36 28 34 30 23 21 26 27 24 9/2004 9/2005 4/2006 9/2006 9/2004 9/2005 4/2006 9/2006 9/2004 9/2005 4/2006 9/2006 9/2004 9/2005 4/2006 9/2006 9/2004 9/2005 4/2006 9/2006

Source: FLASH EB 191 September 2006 GALLUP Q15. Are you personally happy or not that the euro could replace the (NATIONAL CURRENCY)?

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ANNEX 1 – Preparations at Community level

1. Euro coins

On 7 June 2005, at the initiative of the Commission, the Ecofin Council decided that the common sides of the 1- and 2-euro and the 10-, 20- and 50-cent coins, which currently depict the EU before it was enlarged from 15 to 25 Member States, should be amended. The necessary design and technical work has been finalised and the new common sides now depict the European continent.14 Slovenia will be the first euro-area Member State to issue euro coins with the new common side in 2007. The other euro-area Member States may also start to apply the new common sides as from 2007 for new production, and will in any event switch to the new common side in 2008 at the latest.

In July 2006, the Memorandum of Understanding on the start of euro coin production and on preparatory tasks prior to the start of production was signed between the Republic of Cyprus, the euro-area Member States and the European Commission.

2. Communication activities

Preparing citizens in Slovenia for the introduction of the euro has been a priority for the Commission's communication policy in the second half of 2006. Following the decision by the Council on 11 July 2006 to allow Slovenia to adopt the euro on 1 January 2007, the Commission has, in close cooperation with the Slovenian authorities, organised a number of communication activities and supported actions undertaken by the Slovenian government (publications, seminars, website, call centres, advertising and media campaign, etc.).

Both before and after the changeover to the euro, the Commission will carry out surveys targeting Slovenian enterprises, including retailers, and commercial banks. The purpose is to collect information, notably about the level of preparedness for the new currency, the cash changeover and the conversion of administrative and financial systems.

The Commission also started to implement the Partnership Agreements with Cyprus and Malta signed on 5 May 2006. The Partnership Agreements cover technical and financial support to the countries concerned for their national communication campaigns, including publications, media campaigns, conferences and opinion polls.

14 See OJ C 225, 19.9.2006, p. 7, for the official publication of the new common sides.

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ANNEX 2 – 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 preparations which are still under way. It should be noted that the state and degree of progress of preparations should be assessed 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 national changeover plan)

CZ EE CY LV LT HU MT PL SI SK SE Changeover plan National target date X X X X X National Changeover Plan X X X X X X X National Changeover Committee X X X X X X X X Cash Changeover details Type of scenario X X X X X X X Length of dual circulation period X X X X X X X Exchange at commercial banks after X X X X X X X dual circulation period Exchange at central bank after dual X X X X X X X circulation period 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 X15 X1 public Deferred debiting X Piggy coin operations16 X X X Arrangements for extended bank X X opening hours around €-day ATMs dispensing euro only as from X X X X X X €-day Denominations of notes in ATMs X X X specified Transport and storage for euro cash X Transport and storage for legacy X X cash Change only given in euro by X X X X X X retailers as from €-day Coin starter kits for retailers X X X Coins mini-kits for general public X X X Design of national side of the euro X X X X X X coins Supply arrangements for euro coins X X X

15 Exchange at banks at the conversion rate without service fees. 16 This term refers to campaigns encouraging citizens to deposit hoarded cash with banks well in advance of the changeover to the euro.

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CZ EE CY LV LT HU MT PL SI SK SE Further changeover details Necessary adaptations of national X X X X X X law identified 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 Voluntary dual display of prices X X X X Agreements on price stability or fair X X X X X pricing Price monitoring projects X X X X X X X Training for cash handlers X X X X Accounting adaptations X X X X Share capital conversion X X X Rounding rules in legislation X X X Evaluation of the costs involved for the public sector Twinning agreement X X X X X X X Communication activities Communication strategy X X X X X X X Partnership agreement X X X X X

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ANNEX 3 – Table: State of practical preparations (October 2006)

Czech Republic Estonia

Changeover plan

National target date for The preliminary target date (1 January 1 January 2008 (to be confirmed) euro adoption 2010) has been withdrawn by the government on 25 October 2006. No new The government will assess the validity of the current target

date has been set for the time being. date in autumn 2006.

On 23 November 2005 the Deputy National coordinating Minister of Finance was appointed as the The National Changeover Committee, chaired by the institution National Coordinator of the Euro Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance, was set up on Introduction. 27 January 2005. The National Co-ordination Group on Euro Introduction was established and held its first meeting on 20 February 2006. Six Working Groups were established for particular areas of preparatory activity for the euro. (Approved) National The Czech Republic’s Euro Accession The first draft of the euro adoption plan was approved by the Changeover Plan Strategy was approved by the Government government on 1 September 2005: in October 2003: http://www.fin.ee/index.php?id=13324. http://www.cnb.cz/euro_index.php.

According to the Resolution of the Government No. 1231 of 25 October 2006 The fourth version of Estonia's National Changeover Plan the Minister of Finance in cooperation was approved by the National Changeover Committee on 18 with the Governor of the Czech National May 2006: Bank will examine the current strategy and submit the results to the government by 31 http://euro.eesti.ee/EU/Prod/Euroveeb/Main_Page/left_men August 2007. u_content4748/Changeover_to_the_euro_in_Estonia/europl aan_en.jsp The Institutional Arrangements for the Introduction of the Euro in the Czech Republic were adopted by the Government on 23 November 2005.

The National Changeover Plan will be submitted to the government by the end of March 2007.

Changeover details 'Big bang'. Type of scenario "Big bang". On 30 June 2006, the Czech National Coordination 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 government on 25 October 2006. Dual circulation period Two weeks.

Exchange of national Banknotes and coins: commercial banks at least 6 months banknotes and coins after €-day free of charge, some branches 12 months.

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Central Bank indefinitely, free of charge.

Campaign for rapid Campaign for collection of coins before €-day planned; withdrawal of national credit institutions are recommended to launch early cash banknotes and coins deposit campaigns.

Frontloading and sub- Frontloading 2 months before €-day; sub-frontloading by frontloading 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.

ATMs issuing euro only All ATMs will dispense euro only within 48h as of €-day.

Change in euro only In general, change will be given in euro, but the option of giving change in kroons remains for the dual circulation period.

Dual display of prices Compulsory: 6 months before and after €-day.

Consumer confidence Monitoring of the prices of certain frequently consumed building measures (e.g. goods and services under the supervision of the Ministry of agreements with Economic Affairs and Communications. retailers) Leaflets containing information on the euro were made available to the public in summer 2006.

Adaptation of national The legislative needs with respect to Draft Act on the Introduction of the Euro ("umbrella law") law national law adaptation for the introduction and draft amendments to the Business Code are in the final of the euro are being analysed in the stage of inter-ministerial consultation. framework of the Working Group for Legislation of the National Coordination Group on the Euro Introduction.

Euro banknotes and coins

Design of the national Competition under consideration. Design selected and published in December 2004. side

Nr of different coin One design. designs

Coin supplier Not decided yet. Coins to be minted abroad; following an international tender euro coins will be minted by the Mint of Finland. 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 230 million banknotes and 950 million 150-200 million coins. for banknotes and coins coins.

Communication activities

Communication Under preparation within the framework of Endorsed by the National Changeover Committee on 21 strategy the Working Group for Communication. June 2005 and updated on 18 May 2006.

Addresses of websites Central euro address: www.euro.eesti.ee, launched in January 2006. on euro changeover, www.zavedenieura.cz activation date:

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Government/Ministry of Finance; Central Governmental EU information department: http://www.euroskop.cz/euro Bank Czech National Bank: http://www.cnb.cz/cz/mezinarodni_vztahy/ euro/

Ministry of Industry and Trade: http://www.mpo.cz/cz/eu-a-vnitrni- trh/euro-pristoupeni-cr-k- eurozone/default.html

Partnership agreement Signed 8 November 2005.

Other issues

ERM II entry 28 June 2004

Twinning agreement Under preparation (discussion on details with the Commission and with Austrian and Slovenian experts.)

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STATE OF PRACTICAL PREPARATIONS (October 2006)

Cyprus Latvia

Changeover plan

National target date for 1 January 2008 1 January 2008 (under revision) euro adoption

National coordinating Joint coordination by the Minister of Finance The Steering Committee for the preparation and institution and the Central Bank of Cyprus, established on coordination of the euro changeover was established on 29 December 2004. 18 July 2005.

(Approved) National The National Changeover Plan was approved The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia Changeover Plan by the National Advisory Committee on 29 approved the Action Plan for Implementation of the March 2006 and by the Council of Ministers on Single European Currency on 1 November 2005, and 13 July 2006. The plan was published on the the first draft of Latvia's National Euro Changeover national euro web site. Plan on 28 February 2006 (Government Order No 148, 6 March 2006).

Changeover details

Type of scenario "Big bang" envisaged. "Big bang".

Dual circulation period 1–31 January 2008. One month.

Exchange of national The exchange of national banknotes and coins Commercial banks, currency exchange offices and post banknotes and coins is governed by the (draft) “umbrella law” for offices for 6 months after €-day free of charge; the the adoption of the euro in Cyprus. The draft Bank of Latvia will exchange without time limit free of law provides for the exchange of banknotes and charge. 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 the amount of CYP 1 000 for banknotes and CYP 50 for coins per transaction, for a period of 6 months after €- day.

Campaign for rapid A campaign is planned to encourage citizens to Not envisaged due to the high nominal value of coins withdrawal of national use hoarded cash or to deposit it with banks in Latvia and their intensive use in day-to-day banknotes and coins before the introduction of the euro. payments.

Frontloading and sub- Planned between October and December 2007. Frontloading to banks starts on 1 December 2007, sub- frontloading A working group was set up between the frontloading on 15 December 2007 (precondition: euro Central Bank and commercial banks to define banknotes and coins may not be publicly circulated processes and timing. Frontloading of coins will before €-day). be carried out from a Coin Centre, currently under construction. Starter kits will be issued both to businesses and the general public.

ATMs issuing euro only Commercial banks will make the necessary As of 1 January 2008 ATMs will dispense euro arrangements to issue only small denomination banknotes only. euro banknotes (10-, 20-, and 50-euro banknotes) in ATMs as from €-day.

Change in euro only It is planned that the retail sector will be After the end of the dual circulation period. frontloaded with euro coins so as to give change in euro only as from €-day, as far as possible.

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Dual display of prices According to the draft "umbrella law", the dual Compulsory three months from before until one year display of prices will be mandatory in the after €-day. period starting one month after the abrogation of the derogation and the fixing of the conversion rate between the euro and the Cyprus pound until six months after €-day. Ministries and the Central Bank will issue circulars to supplement the law.

Consumer confidence Euro observatories will be established in all Monitoring of price developments in the retail trade, building measures (e.g. districts. verification of the accuracy of price displays and "fair agreements with trader" campaign envisaged. retailers)

Adaptation of national A draft "umbrella law" for the adoption of the "Umbrella law" on basic provisions for the euro law euro in Cyprus is planned to be adopted at the changeover in Latvia is currently being prepared. All end of 2006. The impact of the euro on existing ministries are involved in reviewing national legislation laws has been assessed and the necessary to identify the necessary amendments and new changes are under preparation. legislation required.

Euro banknotes and coins

Design of the national The Council of Ministers approved the designs In process. side for the national sides of the euro coins on 22 June 2006. The designs were unveiled on 11 October 2006.

Nr of different coin Three designs. Four designs. designs

Coin supplier Coins to be minted abroad at approved national Coins will be minted abroad. The call for tenders for and/or private mints, through tender procedures. the production of coins will be held once the design has been finalised.

Estimation on the need 79 million banknotes (value €1730m), 545 87 million banknotes and 300 million coins. for banknotes and coins million coins (value €147.4m).

Communication activities

Communication A Comprehensive Strategic Communication "Communication strategy for the euro changeover in strategy Plan for the Adoption of the Euro in the Latvia" approved by the Steering Committee of Republic of Cyprus was approved by the Latvia's euro implementation project on 12 April 2006. Council of Ministers on 5 April 2006. The relevant action plans were approved, and implementation has started.

Addresses of websites www.euro.cy, activated on 31 May 2006 as part Planned euro changeover website:www.eiro.lv. A on euro changeover, of the communication campaign's official kick- working group has been set up to develop the concept activation date: off event. Other government websites and the of this site. Central Bank's website provide links to the Ministry of changeover website. Updated information on the euro changeover process is Finance/Government; available on the website of the Ministry of Finance: Central Bank http://www.fm.gov.lv/page.php?id=105.

Partnership agreement Signed on 5 May 2006.

Other issues

ERM II entry 2 May 2005 2 May 2005

Twinning agreement Between IE – MT – CY: communication and information strategy (finalised); between GR – CY: technical issues related to the changeover.

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STATE OF PRACTICAL PREPARATIONS (October 2006)

Lithuania Hungary

Changeover plan

National target date for The specific target date has not been set. The update of the Convergence Programme of euro adoption According to the government, Lithuania will 1 September 2006 aims at meeting the Maastricht aim to join the euro area as soon as possible and criteria in 2009. A new target date for the adoption of the more favourable period for Lithuania to join the euro has not been specified. the euro area starts from 2010.

National co-ordinating Commission for the Coordination of the Preparatory work is ongoing in the Ministry of Finance institution Adoption of the Euro in Lithuania, established and Magyar Nemzeti Bank (central bank of Hungary). on 30 May 2005.

(Approved) National The first version of the National Changeover In 2006, the Central Bank prepared a proposal for a Changeover Plan Plan was approved by the government on 29 national changeover plan focusing on its tasks and September 2005. The draft second version of forwarded it, inter alia, to the Ministry of Finance. A the National Changeover Plan, dated April summary of this proposal was published in October 2006, has been published: 2006. http://www.finmin.lt/notes_images/web/stotis_i nf.nsf/0/80C39F584F795D97C22570AD0054C 826/$File/LT%20Changeover%20plan_en.pdf

Changeover details

Type of scenario "Big bang". "Big bang" with possible phasing out features.

One month. Dual circulation period 15 days.

Exchange of national Commercial banks: free of charge for 60 days Credit institutions and post offices: at least during the banknotes and coins after €-day. Central bank: free of charge for an dual circulation period. unlimited 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.

Campaign for rapid Consumers will be encouraged to deposit cash withdrawal of national with banks as early as possible. banknotes and coins

Frontloading and sub- Frontloading of euro banknotes to commercial frontloading 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.

Change in euro only Recommendation to give change in euro only.

Dual display of prices Compulsory: 120 calendar days before €-day until 120 days after €-day; voluntary: recommendation to use dual display as early as possible after the adoption of the conversion rate.

Consumer confidence Business organisations will be encouraged to

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building measures (e.g. adopt a Code of Good Business Practice (on agreements with correct conversion, no price increases etc.); retailers) enterprises committing themselves will be authorised to use the special logo of the Code.

Adaptation of national A Law on the Adoption of the Euro has been law drafted (rules on conversion and exchange of the litas to the euro, withdrawal of litas from 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 Approved. side

Nr of different coin Three designs. designs

Coin supplier Lithuanian Mint. National Mint.

Estimation on the need Estimation of 118 million banknotes and 290 0,5 billion banknotes and 1 billion coins. for banknotes and coins million coins has been made on the condition that the euro will be introduced on 1 January 2007.

Communication activities

Communication The "Public information and communication strategy strategy on the adoption of the euro of Lithuania" was approved by the government on 29 September 2005. The strategy is currently under revision.

The Bank of Lithuania has completed the procedure for the selection of a provider of euro information services.

Addresses of websites Websites of the Bank of Lithuania (www.lb.lt) www.euro.mnb.hu (activation envisaged in the course on euro changeover, and of the Ministry of Finance (www.finmin.lt). of November 2006) activation date: A national website is under development.

Ministry of Finance/Government; Central Bank

Partnership agreement Signed on 8 November 2005.

Other issues

ERM II entry 28 June 2004 Between NL – SI – LT: communication and Twinning agreement information strategy; Between AU – HU: communication and information between BE – LT on tax-related questions; strategy (finalised). between BE – LT on departmental management related to the changeover.

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STATE OF PRACTICAL PREPARATIONS (October 2006)

Malta Poland

Changeover plan

National target date for 1 January 2008 euro adoption

National co-ordinating Two Committees appointed on 13 June 2005: a Inter-institutional working group Ministry of Finance / institution Steering Committee and a National Euro national central bank. Changeover Committee (NECC) reporting to it.

(Approved) National The Second Updated Master Planfor the Euro Changeover Plan Changeover in Malta was adopted by the government on 12 June 2006http://mfin.gov.mt/image.aspx?site=NECC &ref=Master%20Plan%202

.

Changeover details

Type of scenario "Big bang" with a "phasing-out" period.

Dual circulation period January 2008.

Exchange of national It is planned that, as from 2 January 2008, credit banknotes and coins institutions will start accepting the exchange of 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 both cases free exchange is planned to be provided until the end of March 2008. The Central Bank of Malta will continue to exchange all Maltese lira coins and notes, subject to anti-money laundering regulations, for two years and ten years respectively after the Maltese lira ceases to be legal tender.

Campaign for rapid A de-hoarding campaign is being designed by withdrawal of national the NECC and the Central Bank of Malta. The banknotes and coins campaign will target the general public and specific target groups and is expected to unfold as of mid-2007 (after the decision lifting Malta's derogation).

Frontloading and sub- Frontloading to credit institutions is planned to frontloading start from late October/early November 2007 and sub-frontloading by credit institutions to businesses and other cash handlers is planned to start from 17 December 2007.

As from 1 December 2007, credit institutions will exchange Maltese lira into euro at the irrevocably fixed conversion rate without any exchange charges.

ATMs issuing euro only It is planned that at least one ATM in all major localities will dispense euro banknotes as from 1 January 2008.

Change in euro only Planned as from 1 January 2008.

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Dual display of prices Mandatory dual display of prices from 1 July 2007 (or from the irrevocable fixing of the conversion rate, if later) until 30 June 2008. Voluntary dual display will be promoted by the NECC as from 1 January 2007.

Consumer confidence Following consultation both within the NECC building measures (e.g. and of the public, the Fair-pricing Agreements agreements with in Retailing (FAIR) initiative is expected to be retailers) launched by the last quarter of 2006. The FAIR initiative provides for the conclusion of formal agreements in which retailers notably commit themselves not to increase prices for the simple reason that the euro is introduced.

A Euro Observatory on the basis of EC Recommendation 98/288/EC is being set up.

The NECC has requested relevant organisations to submit innovative and creative proposals which enhance consumers’ confidence in the euro changeover process. The NECC will be co-financing such initiatives.

Adaptation of national The Euro Adoption Act 2006 entered into force law on 29 September 2006. A workshop is identifying the need for amendments to existing legislation and is drafting respective proposals.

Euro banknotes and coins

Design of the national The three designs for the national sides of the Public survey. side Maltese euro coins were selected following a public consultation; the final designs were published by the Central Bank on 13 October 2006.

Nr of different coin Three designs. designs

Coin supplier As Malta does not have a national mint, the National Mint. Maltese euro coins will be produced by the Monnaie de Paris, the mint chosen following a public call for tenders.

Estimation on the need Estimated 92.5 million euro notes. Between 4 and 5 billion coins. for banknotes and coins Estimated 206 million euro coins.

Communication activities

Communication "Multi-annual communication strategy in strategy 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 including 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

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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 magazines and an advertising campaign. The team of information officers is also constantly participating in television and radio programmes as well as giving public talks to NGOs, local councils and other important multipliers. A specific campaign targeting businesses in planned in autumn.

Addresses of websites NECC: http://www.euro.gov.mt on euro changeover, activation date: Central Bank of Malta: http://www.centralbankmalta.com/site/euroadop Government/Ministry tion.html of Finance; Ministry of Finance: http://mfin.gov.mt Central Bank

Partnership agreement Signed on 5 May 2006.

Other issues

ERM II entry 2 May 2005

Twinning agreement Between IE – MT – CY: communication and Between DE – PL: communication and information information strategy (finalised). strategy and practical issues.

Between AT-MT: establishment of Euro Observatory.

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STATE OF PRACTICAL PREPARATIONS (October 2006)

Slovenia Slovakia Sweden

Changeover plan

National target date for 1 January 2007 (euro adoption date) 1 January 2009 Not yet decided. euro adoption

National co-ordinating The Coordinating Committee for Ministry of Finance institution Technical Preparations to Introduce the Euro was created in July 2004.

(Approved) National A Masterplan for the Euro Changeover The National Changeover Plan was approved Changeover Plan was approved in January 2005. on 6 July 2005: First update was adopted by the government on 2 February 2006. Both http://www.nbs.sk/ZAKLNBS/PUBLIK/BRO documents are available on: ZURY/NARPLAN.PDF (Slovak) http://www.bsi.si/en/publications.asp?Ma paId=717 http://www.nbs.sk/ZAKLNBS/PUBLIK/BRO and ZURY/NARPLANA.PDF (English). http://www.evro.si/en/slo-and- euro/documents/. Changeover details

Type of scenario "Big bang". "Big bang".

Dual circulation period 1 January to 14 January 2007. 16 days.

Exchange of national Commercial banks will exchange tolar Commercial banks exchange banknotes until banknotes and coins banknotes and coins free of charge until end 2009 and coins until June 2009 (free of 1 March 2007; Banka Slovenije will charge). The Central Bank exchanges exchange tolar banknotes without time banknotes without time limit and coins for 5 limit and tolar coins until 31 December years. 2016 free of charge.

Campaign for rapid A campaign of the banking sector is withdrawal of national planned for the rapid withdrawal of banknotes and coins national banknotes and coins.

Frontloading and sub- Frontloading of coins to banks as of 16 One to four months prior to €-day. frontloading September 2006, of banknotes as of 11 December 2006; sub-frontloading of coins as of 1 December 2006, of banknotes as of 11 December 2006; coin mini-kits for the general public as of 15 December 2006, while starter kits for retailers as of 1 December 2006

ATMs issuing euro only ATMs will only dispense €10 and €20 As of €-day ATMs will issue euro only. banknotes as of €-day.

Change in euro only Change will be given in euro only as of Change will be given in euro only. €-day.

Dual display of prices Compulsory from 1 March 2006 to 30 Compulsory: from one month after the fixing June 2007. of the conversion rate to one year after euro adoption. Voluntary: for further 6 months.

Consumer confidence Price Watch Project: The Consumer Evolution of prices in 2008 and 2009 will be building measures (e.g. Association of Slovenia is monitoring closely monitored; consumers will be agreements with retailers) price developments in the retail sector for informed of the results; consumers can raise

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specific goods and services in complaints with supervisory bodies or apply cooperation with the Statistical Office of to the courts; voluntary ethical code has been the Republic of Slovenia and will publish drafted with retailers and entrepreneurs. the names of retailers who increase prices excessively.

Adaptation of national law The draft Introduction of the Euro Act "Umbrella law" planned to be adopted by 1 was sent to the ECB for consultation on 3 January 2008. The necessary amendments to May 2006 and submitted to Parliament in existing legislation have been identified by July 2006. Amendments to the Salary January 2006 and are envisaged to be adopted Tax Act were adopted in December in 2008 at the latest. 2005; amendments to the Bank of Slovenia Act, to the Payment Transactions Act, to the Minor Offences Act and to the Companies Act were adopted in April 2006. The amendments to the Collateralisation Act were adopted in June 2006.

Euro banknotes and coins

Design of the national side Approved. 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.

Nr of different coin designs Eight designs. Three designs.

Coin supplier Coins to be minted by national mints National Mint. abroad; the Mint of Finland has been chosen as producer of euro coins.

Estimation on the need for 94 million banknotes and 296 million 400 million coins. banknotes and coins coins.

Communication activities

Communication strategy Endorsed by Bank of Slovenia on 19 Communication strategy on the euro May 2005 and by the government on 2 introduction in the Slovak Republic is part of June 2005. the National Changeover Plan.

Addresses of websites on National website on euro changeover: http://euro.vlada.gov.sk; euro changeover, activation , activated on date: http://www.evro.si 15 February 2006. http://www.euromena.sk. Special section on the euro on the Government/Ministry of webpage of Bank of Slovenija: Finance; http://www.bsi.si. Toll-free phone line: 080 2002. Free euro Central Bank post cards.

Partnership agreement Signed on 8 November 2005

Other issues

ERM II entry 28 June 2004 28 November 2005

Twinning agreement Between NL – SI – LT: communication Between AU – SK: communication and and information strategy. information strategy;

Between BE – SK: technical issues related to the changeover (finalised).

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ANNEX 4

Euro coins designs of the future national sides of Cyprus

1- and 2-euro coin 10-, 20- and 50-cent coin

1-, 2- and 5-cent coin

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Euro coins designs of the future national sides of Malta

1- and 2-euro coin 10-, 20- and 50-cent coin

1-, 2- and 5-cent coin

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ANNEX 5 - State of public opinion in the recently acceded Member States

The European Commission recently commissioned another Eurobarometer survey on public opinion in the recently acceded Member States concerning their attitudes towards and knowledge about the introduction of the euro. Gallup Europe conducted this survey in September 2006. It was the fourth such Eurobarometer survey (following surveys in September 2004 and 2005, and in April 2006), again polling over 10 000 citizens.

1. Familiarity with and knowledge about the euro

Respondents in the recently acceded Member States are already relatively familiar with the single currency. 77% of the respondents have already seen euro banknotes while 70% have seen euro coins. Less than half of the respondents have already used the euro. Generally, euro banknotes are better known and more used in the recently acceded Member States than coins.

In addition to these practical aspects, the survey also tested the respondents' knowledge of the euro's general features. As to the design of the single currency, only a minority of respondents was able to respond correctly that banknotes are identical throughout the euro area (45% compared to 46% in April 2006), and that the coins have national designs on one side (37%, unchanged). As in April 2006 and before, only 40% identified the correct number of euro-area Member States. A relatively stable majority of citizens (67%, previously 69%) in each surveyed country believes that their country can decide whether it will adopt the euro or not.

Regarding the expected date of introduction of the euro, the results show a marked shift since April 2006, corresponding to actual developments. While in spring the majority of the population of the Baltic States believed that their countries would adopt the euro before 2008 (72% in Lithuania, 71% in Estonia and 51% in Latvia), only a minority now shares this opinion (35%, 44% and 36%, respectively).

2. Information and information channels

The results of the September 2006 survey reveal a moderate increase in the perceived information level, both on average as well as in each country except Latvia. Overall, 5% of respondents believe that they are very well informed about the euro, and another 35% report that they are rather well informed. These figures have improved for the second time, suggesting that the dissemination of information has been gradually improving over time. Inversely, 58% consider that they are not very well, or not at all, informed about the euro, including respondents in Cyprus (60%) and Malta (62%), which are aiming to introduce the euro on 1 January 2008. The results suggest that demand for information is far from satisfied for the time being.

As in April 2006, an average of 77% of respondents express their confidence in national central banks as a trusted source of information. European institutions are perceived as the second most trusted source (results being slightly lower than in April 2006: 67% relative to 70%). Most respondents continue to prefer mass media and banks as channels of information and are mainly interested in practical information on the euro introduction, e.g. the value of the euro (93%), how to avoid being cheated (92%), the changeover scenario (90%), etc. The survey confirms once more that a dual display of prices is considered essential in preparing for the changeover, both in shops (85%) and on utility bills (75%).

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3. Perceptions of and support for the single European currency

As in April 2006, citizens in the recently acceded Member States are prepared – at least mentally – to have their currency replaced by the euro: 47% are very or quite happy about a future changeover, which is comparable to the April 2006 findings. The trends are very much country-dependent: the relative share of citizens happy about the euro changeover increased in five of the ten recently acceded Member States, while it has decreased in the other five since April 2006.

Generally, citizens expect that the advantages will be greater for their country than for themselves. Only 8% think that the introduction will have a very positive effect (no change compared to April 2006), and 42% that it will have a positive rather than a negative effect on the country (a 2-percentage-point decrease from April 2006). Similar figures on a personal level show that 8% expect very positive (+1), and 36% rather positive (-3) consequences when it comes to adopting the single currency in their country. A significant minority of 40% expect negative personal consequences, but fewer citizens fear a similar outcome for their country (36%).

Support for the euro decreased significantly in Hungary and Cyprus, and somewhat less in Poland, Malta and Latvia, while increasing in the other Member States. Citizens in Malta and Cyprus remain sceptical, despite the possibility of their countries adopting the euro in the near future. While only 31% of respondents expect positive consequences for Malta, 48% (compared to 42% previously) appear to be very or rather happy with the euro replacing their national currency. In Cyprus, the picture is more pessimistic: only 29% expect positive consequences for the country, which is the lowest rate of all ten countries, and only 32% (compared to previously 39%) are very or rather happy.

4. Expectations and fears regarding the adoption of the euro

The September results broadly confirm previous surveys as regards citizens' expectations of the euro. 45% (compared to 46% in April 2006) of the respondents continue to fear that the introduction of the euro will increase inflation in their country. There is still broad consensus in the recently acceded Member States that the euro is an international currency and that there are several benefits associated with their country's adoption of the euro.

Regarding the euro's economic or political effects, respondents generally acknowledge that it will have positive effects on public finances (44%, unchanged). Citizens are split (40% agree and 39% disagree) when asked whether the euro will favour employment or boost economic growth.

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