In a speech on 'The changeover to the euro currency' given on 13 November, Eugenio Domingo Solans of the ECB said based on the positive experience we have so far made with the euro and its smooth introduction, we can be confident that we will cope with the challenges linked to the enlargement of the European Monetary Union in the not too distant future. Some of the ten acceding countries which will obtain the EU membership as of next year have already announced their ambitious goals of