05/05/2009 : Conference on the changeover to the euro in Slovakia - Brussels

The aim of the conference was to review the preparations on practical level and as regards communications for the changeover to the euro in Slovakia on 1 January 2009. For this the key players of the Slovak authorities and the European Commission and some private partners reviewed in detail their activities and evaluated the changeover.

The conclusion of the conference was that the changeover to the euro in Slovakia was particularly successful and would be remembered as a school case for future changeovers. The conference participants included representatives from national authorities -many representatives of New Member States to the euro area were present- both from the governments and the national central banks. The discussions at the conference proved once more that careful preparations including all relevant national stakeholders pay off.

Conference documents - Copyright rests with the authors
Programme(211 kB)
Morning Session
Welcome by the Chair of the morning session: Mrs Linda Corugedo Steneberg, Director, European Commission, DG ECFIN/R
Introduction of the euro in Slovakia - summary of the Commission Communication and comparison with earlier changeovers(90 kB)   (90 kB)   Speaker: Mr Benjamin Angel, Head of Unit, European Commission, DG ECFIN/E3
General overview of the changeover with a special focus on price monitoring and consumer protection measures (574 kB)  Speaker: Mr Igor Barát, Government Plenipotentiary for the Euro, Slovakia
Introduction of euro cash
Mr Andrej Slížik, Head of Cash Unit, National Bank of Slovakia(314 kB)   Mr Thomas Schweikart, Head of the Currency Management Division, European Central Bank(108 kB)
Information and communication campaign and public opinion
A)Information campaign by the national authorities(8 MB)   Speaker: Mr Martin Šuster, Head of Communication Working Committee on Euro Introduction, National Bank of Slovakia
B)Information campaign by commercial banks(968 kB)   Speaker: Ms Elena Kohútiková, Euro Project Manager, VÚB Bank
C)The European Commission's information and communication activities(94 kB)   Speaker: Mr Roman Schönwiesner, Head of Unit, European Commission, DG ECFIN/R4
Afternoon Session
Opening remarks by the Chair of the afternoon session Speaker: Mr Benjamin Angel, Head of Unit, European Commission, DG ECFIN/E3
Changeover in Slovakia as viewed by the business sector
A)Preparedness of SMEs for the euro introduction and their changeover experience(183 kB)   Speaker: Mr Peter Pospíšil, Head of Business Environment Analysis Department, National Agency for the Development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
B)Changeover: the perspective of the business sector(152 kB)   Speaker: Mr Jozef Orgonáš, Secretary General, Union of Business and Tourism of the Slovak Republic
Euro-area enlargement – state of play(146 kB)   (146 kB)   The state of economic convergence in the countries which are committed to adopt the euro Speaker: Mr Paul Kutos, Head of Section, European Commission, DG ECFIN/C3
Update on the state of national changeover preparations Tour de table on the national changeover preparations in the countries which yet have to adopt the euro
Closing remarks by the Chair