2013-12-19
The most important euro adoption aspects were presented to the Board of the Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania
Vitas Vasiliauskas, Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania, presented to the Board of the Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania a study of the impact of the changeover on the country's economy and discussed the role of municipalities in the euro adoption process.
“We see the local authorities that are particularly close to the population as especially important partners in providing information to the public on issues of euro adoption. The active participation of municipalities can impact the particular informativeness of the district residents as well as their preparedness to accept the new currency. Therefore, we hope for close and fruitful cooperation”, said Vitas Vasiliauskas, Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania.
According to the national euro adoption plan, agreements signed with public service providers will have to be changed according to the procedure set by the municipalities, so that payment for public services provided during the changeover would be rounded only to the population's benefit and would not be increased.
In addition, when needed, municipalities, like other state institutions, will have to prepare new document forms, lay down the requirements for filling them out and inform data providers, consumers and customers regarding changes related to the euro adoption in the Republic of Lithuania.
“Without doubt, we will have to prepare in advance and work a lot for the euro to be introduced as smoothly as possible. What we can do best is learn from our neighbours who have already been on this path and try to make this historical event benefit both our people and the state”, says Ričardas Malinauskas, President of the Board of the Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania.
60 municipalities belong to the Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania.