Slovenia Prepares Celebrations on Euro Changeover

Politics » BULGARIA IN EU | January 15, 2007, Monday // 00:00

Authorities are preparing one of the largest political ceremonies in Slovenian history on Monday to herald the country's successful changeover to the euro.

The adoption of the single European currency has been underway over the last two weeks.

The Slovenian government and the European Central Bank (ECB) are staging the event, which will see a number of important guests Monday in the capital Ljubljana, to celebrate Slovenia's changeover to the euro on January 1 from its 15-year-old currency, the tolar.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country currently holds the presidency of the European Union, will attend the festivities.

Also expected are at least two EU commissioners, seven prime ministers and seven ministers from European Union countries.

Sunday was the last day tolars could be used in shops around the country. From Monday, some two million Slovenians will have to first change their old currency into euros at the bank.

Slovenia became the 13th member of the eurozone on January 1 when it adopted the euro to replace the tolar, a currency created in 1991 when the tiny Alpine state declared independence from the former Yugoslavia.

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