Press Release: President Prodi and Commissioner Solbes welcome Greece’s application to become twelfth member of the euro-zone

EU Commission President Romano Prodi and Pedro Solbes, Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs welcomed the application of the Greek government on 9 March 2000 to join the third stage of Economic and Monetary Union. They said that an enlarged EMU area will be positive both for the euro-zone area and for the countries joining. This application comes close after the positive Council decision in November 1999 on the abrogation of Greece's excessive deficit and the Council's opinion on the Greek convergence programme in January 2000. The Commission will examine the progress made by Greece in fulfilling the convergence criteria set out in the Treaty in good time and make a recommendation to the Council

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