Today the Bank of Lithuania was presented with the Euro Star — a token that is traditionally given to a nation that is adopting the single currency of the European Union. The symbolic sign of membership in the euro area was presented by Mario Draghi, the President of the European Central Bank (ECB)...
Today the Bank of Lithuania was presented with the Euro Star — a token that is traditionally given to a nation that is adopting the single currency of the European Union. The symbolic sign of membership in the euro area was presented by Mario Draghi, the President of the European Central Bank (ECB), who is visiting in Lithuania for the first time. On 1 January 2015 Lithuania will become the nineteenth member of the euro area, which unites almost 340 million people.
“Joining the euro area is a momentous commitment to the future, built upon – but never denying – the long, proud histories of our individual nation states”, said M. Draghi during Euro Star handover ceremony in the Bank of Lithuania.
“I am glad that we are meeting here, at the Bank of Lithuania during this significant and, dare I say, stressful time. We are counting the days — now less than a hundred remain — and the last tasks that separate us from the moment when our country will enter the euro area. I have no doubts that our country will be a responsible and active member of this family; with our experience, stubbornness and abilities we will help create a successful future for this old continent and each and every one of us,” said Vitas Vasiliauskas, Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania, during the Euro Star ceremony.
In his speech, the head of the Bank of Lithuania also expressed his respect for the litas, which, being stable and reliable, paved the way towards the euro.
The Euro Star, which came to Lithuania from the ECB headquarters in Frankfurt am Main (Germany), will be exhibited at the Money Museum of the Bank of Lithuania.
After the handover Euro Star of the ceremony at the Bank of Lithuania, the President of the ECB, Mario Draghi, will participate in the international conference, “Euro Conference Lithuania: Single Market, Single Currency, Common Future”, which will take place in Vilnius today. It is organised by the Bank of Lithuania together with its partners — the ECB, the European Commission and the Republic of Lithuania Ministry of Finance.
More Martynas Ambrazas (ELTA) photos
Video on YouTube Channel.
Full recording of Euro Star handover is available at LRT mediateka