Making a date with the club

A leading adviser to the central bank says it is still possible for Poland to adopt the euro in 2009 although the actual date of entry will depend how well public finances are managed.

"From the technical point of view Poland's entry into the eurozone in 2009 remains possible," Zbigniew Polanski, an adviser to Central Bank chief Leszek Balcerowicz, said.

"But it will be the improvement in public finances that will determine our euro adoption and, before that, our entry into ERM-2 currency mechanism, he added."

High budget deficits remain the biggest obstacle on Poland's path to the euro, although the outgoing government has said it was realistic to slash the shortfall below the required three percent of gross domestic product by 2007.

Center-right Civic Platform (PO) chief Jan Rokita, tipped to become Prime Minister after the September 25 elections, said his cabinet was unlikely to set a firm date for euro adoption, but thought 2009 entry was not realistic.

Analysts are skeptical whether the country will be able to join the single currency club this decade and widely expect this to happen in 2010 at the earliest. (Reuters)