Latvia becomes the 18th Member State to adopt the euro

Latvia adopted the euro at midnight on the 31 December 2013 – on the 15th anniversary of the launch of the euro in 1999. From the 1 January 2014 18 EU Member States and 333m Europeans shared the same currency. Latvijas Banka became a member of the Eurosystem.

The European Commission issued a statement confirming that the changeover had gone smoothly and according to the plans.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Thirteenth report on practical preparations for the euro: final countdown for Latvia http://www.europeansources.info/record/memo-thirteenth-report-on-practical-preparations-for-the-euro-final-countdown-for-latvia/

Latvia: Bank of Latvia: EU and euro http://www.bank.lv/en/eu-and-euro/eu-and-euro

Wikipedia: Latvia and the euro http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latvia_and_the_euro

European Commission: DG Economic and Financial Affairs: The euro: Your country and the euro: Latvia and the euro http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/euro/countries/latvia_en.htm

BBC News, 30.12.13: Latvia hopes euro will bring stability http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25332243

The Guardian, 31.12.13: Latvia joins eurozone at midnight despite little public enthusiasm http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/dec/31/latvia-joins-euro-single-currency

European Voice, 30.12.13: Latvia prepares to join euro http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/2013/december/latvia-prepares-to-join-euro/79191.aspx

Euronews, 29.12.13: Latvia indifferent about joining eurozone http://www.euronews.com/2013/12/29/latvia-days-from-joining-eurozone/

Euronews, 30.12.13: Latvia counts down to join the eurozone http://www.euronews.com/2013/12/30/latvia-counts-down-to-join-the-eurozone/

Latvia: Ministry of Finance: Euro introduction website http://www.eiro.lv/en/sakums

ECB: Press Release, 01.01.14: 1 January 2014 - Latvia joins the euro area http://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2014/html/pr140101.en.html

France, 01.01.14: Latvia becomes 18th country to adopt the euro http://www.france24.com/en/20140101-latvia-becomes-18th-country-adopt-euro/

Deutsche Welle, 31.12.13: Latvia becomes the 18th member of the eurozone http://dw.de/p/1AjqK

BBC News, 01.01.14: Latvia becomes 18th state to join the eurozone http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25567096

Blog: Policy Review, 31.12.13: Latvia’s membership shows euro is ‘major achievement’ – claims EU http://www.policyreview.eu/latvias-membership-shows-euro-is-major-achievement-claims-eu/

EurActiv, 02.01.14: Latvia joins eurozone as euro turns 15 http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/latvia-joins-eurozone-euro-turns-news-532557

EUObserver, 02.01.14: Latvia heralds 'big opportunity' as it joins eurozone http://euobserver.com/news/122622

European Commission: Rapid: IP/14/1: A successful start for the euro changeover in Latvia http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-1_en.htm

European Commission: Rapid: IP/14/3: Smooth euro changeover in Latvia: already two-thirds of cash payments in euro only http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-3_en.pdf

European Commission: RAPID: Speech, SPEECH/14/9: Speech by Vice-President Rehn at the Conference on the introduction of the Euro http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-14-9_en.pdf

Council of the European Union: Press Release, PRES/14/7: Press statement by Herman Van Rompuy following the meeting with Prime Minster of Latvia Valdis Dombrovskis http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/140339.pdf

European Commission: RAPID: Speech, SPEECH/14/7: Remarks by President Barroso on the occasion of Latvia's euro entry http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-14-7_en.pdf

Council of the European Union: Press Release, PRES/14/8: Speech by President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy at the celebration of Latvia's adoption of the euro http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/140345.pdf

European Commission: RAPID: Speech, SPEECH/14/8: Speech by President Barroso on the Occasion of Latvia joining the euro http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-14-8_en.pdf

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