2014-09-25
At the international conference “Euro Conference Lithuania”, the country’s historical step towards the euro will be assessed
Today in Vilnius, at the international conference “The Euro in Lithuania: One Market, One Currency, Common Future”, European and Lithuanian leaders, responsible for financial policy, as well as heads of business and international financial institutions, will assess Lithuania’s road to the euro and the country’s future role in the Eurosystem.
“Lithuania will step into the euro area as a reliable partner, having proved that we are able to deal with the country’s economic and financial system’s issues. Currently our economy is one of the most rapidly growing in Europe, while the financial sector is much healthier than a few years ago. However, on the other hand, this particular time requires special vigilance — once we enter the euro area, new opportunities will open and new opportunities often provide new temptations; therefore now it is especially important to preserve financial prudence and discipline,” says Vitas Vasiliauskas, Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania.
According to him, only financially responsible behaviour will help maximise the opportunities offered by the single currency.
This international conference is organised by the Bank of Lithuania together with its partners — the European Central Bank (ECB), European Commission and the Republic of Lithuania Ministry of Finance. At the conference, presentations will be read and insights shared on relevant issues of economics and finance by Mario Draghi, President of the ECB, Jyrki Katainen, Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, Algirdas Butkevičius, Prime Minister, Rimantas Šadžius, Minister of Finance, Ilmārs Rimšēvičs, Governor of the Bank of Latvia, upper-level heads from the European Parliament, International Monetary Fund and other guests. The conference will take place at the National Philharmonic Society of Lithuania.
On 1 January 2015 Lithuania will become the nineteenth member of the euro area, which unites almost 340 million people.