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Verbatim report of proceedings
Wednesday, 31 May 2006 - Brussels OJ edition

Enlargement of the euro zone (debate)
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  Justas Vincas Paleckis (PSE). – Mr President, in congratulating Slovenia, I would like to remind you that Lithuania has met all of the Maastricht criteria for five consecutive years, except for a one-month period during which inflation exceeded the criteria by a small margin. However, it was exactly at that time that the Commission rushed to make a negative recommendation. The day after the Commission’s conclusion, it emerged from the latest data that Lithuania did in fact meet the Maastricht criteria.

Yesterday, the President of the Ecofin group, Mr Juncker, said that Lithuania was warned not to apply for the euro because of its probable rejection. Unfortunately, this demonstrates the Commission’s preconceptions based on suspicion and prognosis. It seems that Vilnius was punished for not following Brussels’ advice and, ironically, because it met the criteria for five exemplary years. Of all the eurozone countries, only Finland can be proud about meeting the same targets.

The situation could be restored. I urge my colleagues to vote for the amendment in which the Commission is ‘to review its evaluation of Lithuania’. I also invite the initiation of a broader discussion on the legitimacy and application of the present convergence criteria in the enlarged EU.

 
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