Poland's neighbor preparing for the Euro

Lithuanians will begin using the euro on January 1. The eurozone will welcome its 19th member and last baltic country to join the common european currency. The Lithuanian litas/euro fixed rate has been set by the EU Council at 3.45 litas per euro. A transition period will allow the exchange of old banknotes until the end of 2015. Likewise, stores have shown prices in both currencies since last August. A new Lithuanian euro coin will don the Lithuanian ducal knight on one side. In Poland, however, the general public is not in favor of the common currency. A recent TNS Polska poll showed that 51 percent of Poles are against instituting the euro in Poland. National Bank chief Marek Belka has also been quoted saying that he thinks that Poland is safer outside the eurozone.