But it was difficult to curb the rise in the price

Tellers were taken by surprise. The doors only open Friday, December 15, dozens of people flocked in Ljubljana banks to get the first kits of coins available. A ruée as it took limit purchases to one bag per person. The Slovenia adopted the single currency on January 1. But many Slovenes were apparently eager to manipulate, before everyone, euro coins in the colours of their small country. In particular, the effigy of the national hero, poet France Preseren. The wave of Euroscepticism that swept Europe in recent years has, it seems, step affected the former Yugoslav Republic. The single currency there is, on the contrary, granted with impatience and enthusiasm. Over two-thirds of the Slovenians themselves, in opinion polls, the abandonment of the tolar to the euro (239,64 tolars for one euro). A change of currency, seen by many as a consecration, as the culmination of hard efforts to reach the hard core of developed Europe.

The Slovenia is proud to be the first of the new Member States of the European Union to enter the euro area. And, indeed, made significant sacrifices to achieve. "The country truly mobilized to achieve this objective", notes Mihela Zupancic, the head of the delegation of the European Commission in Ljubljana. Successive Governments of centre-left and center-right from 2004 made a priority, fort of the consensus of the major political parties on this issue.

Limit the rise in the price

The unions have agreed to moderate their wage demands to limit the rise in the price. Because inflation was the main problem faced by the Slovenia to join the euro area. "The country meet since long the other criteria of the Maastricht Treaty, as the level of deficit and public debt, said Vladimir Lavrac Institute of economic research in Ljubljana (see graphic below).". "But it was difficult to curb the rise in the price."

The former Yugoslav Republic did, indeed, not released its vigilance on this point since the European Commission gave her last may, the green light to move to the euro on 1 January. The Association of consumers and the media had continually since then hunt down and to denounce the unjustified price increases. And they prepare to monitor early famous rounding in tolars into euros price conversions. Vigilance to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Subject to this, the single currency should not disrupt the lives of the Slovenian. Most already have recourse to the single currency for their loans or savings (see below). The euro will reduce the risk of foreign exchange for business. And "it will help attract foreign investors," said Darijan Kosir, the economy of the "delo" newspaper editor What would be beneficial to the country. Because the Slovenia, unlike the other States of Central Europe, in that very few received since its independence in 1991. Small market of 2 million people, the former Yugoslav Republic "suffers from a heavy taxation, high labour costs and intrusive legislation", said Samo Hribar Milic, the President of the employers. It would be primarily in the hands of a small oligarchy, according to some. "Still very present in the economy, the State was privatized only very moderately and protects local firms of foreign greed", said one Western diplomat stationed in Ljubljana. Economic patriotism which disabled the country by depriving it of necessary transfer of technology and know-how.

The Government has promised to speed up privatizations after the changeover to the euro. But it may be captured, these next few months, another European maturity of importance: the rotating Presidency of the European Union. As for the single currency, the Slovenia will serve as pioneer: it will be the first of the new Member States to which échoira this heavy task in the 1st half of 2008.