Eurozone in 2008 - Huebner

According to European Affairs Minister Danuta Huebner, Poland may join the common currency in 2008 at the exchange rate of approximately zl. 4 per Euro. "The inflation rate in this period is expected to be low," she said at a meeting at the Polish Economic Association (PTE) adding, "In my opinion meeting the 3% budget deficit criterion may be particularly difficult for us and as a result fulfilling all convergence conditions will not be easy either." According to Finance Minister Grzegorz Kolodko, Poland will be capable of meeting the convergence criteria in 2005 and entering the Eurozone two years later. This view is also shared by Central Bank chairman Leszek Balcerowicz, who claims that Poland should adopt the Euro as soon as possible. (www.onet.pl). A.Z.