Many Slovenian and European economists praise this decision, and additional stability is expected as a result, despite the minor increases of the prices due to the introduction of the joint European currency.
Slovenia is the only one of the 10 countries that joined the EU in 2004 to have met the tough Maastricht criteria on finances and exchange rates that are required for newcomers to join the Euro. Predicted upcoming expansions of the Euro-zone:
2008 - Cyprus and Malta
2009 - Slovakia (Slovak Republic)
2012 - Czech Republic
2013 - Hungary
Slovenia is following a 'Big Bang Scenario', meaning that Euro is being introduced immediately on January 1, 2007. The period of dual currency circulation is only from January 1 to 14 2007. During this period, payments are possible in both the Slovenian Tolars and Euros. The fixed exchange/conversion rate is 239.640 Tolars to one Euro. For comparison reasons, all prices in Slovenia have to be displayed in both currencies since 1 March 2006. The obligatory dual pricing will be in effect until the end of June 2007.
Slovenia issued a series of Eurocoins (denomination Euro: 2, 1 and Eurocents: 50, 20, 10, 5, 2, 1) with Slovenian national motives.
For more information about the Euro and Euro in Slovenia in particular, please visit one of the links below:
http://www.evro.si/en/
http://europa.eu.int/euro/
