With the referendum on EU accession the Poles already said "yes" to the Euro.
No question: The Euro IS to be introduced!
- Thursday, 16 November 2006
An announcement by the Polish government to ask the Polish citizens whether or not they would prefer the Euro to the Zloty in a referendum in 2010 caused some friendly clarification on the part of EU officials. The Poles were reminded that with the accession referendum on EU membership, the introduction of the Euro was already included in the package.
As soon as they met the criteria to enter the monetary union it would be obligatory for them to join Euroland. Obviously it is not important, whether the Polish citizens want it or not. Lets hope for Poland and other new member states, that they were well informed about this and all the other “goodies” they voted on in the accession referendum.
Polish finance minister, Zyta Gilowska, predicted Poland would meet the entry criteria for the Euro in 2009 and membership in the currency union would be put to a popular vote the following year. Now the decision to hold a referendum has confounded some in Brussels, who point out that Poland is already committed to joining the Euro under the terms of its accession to the European Union in 2004.
The European commission has reacted with dismay and reminded Poland that joining the single currency is a condition of EU membership. “The treaty obligations are clear, the Euro is to be introduced when the convergence criteria are met,” said the commission on Monday. Commission officials and monetary affairs commissioner Joaquin Almunia are concerned a vote will “only feed populist fears and may court a backlash”.
Sweden voted 'No' to joining the single currency in 2003 and the French and Dutch 'No' votes to the EU constitutional treaty in 2005 proved how hard it is to win any referendum on a European question.
“The Euro is part and parcel of becoming part of the EU, joining was ratified by referendum, including the Euro too,” said a commission official. However, we are not sure whether he Polish citizens and citizens of other new member states were aware of all the “goodies” that are obviously part of their accession parcel.
Sources: Financial Times The parliament.com