EU fears Polish euro vote

A Polish referendum on the euro risks a repeat of the French and Dutch no votes that sank the EU constitution in 2005, Brussels has warned Warsaw.

The European commission has reacted with dismay and reminded Poland that joining the single currency is a condition of EU membership.

“The treaty obligations are clear, the euro is to be introduced when the convergence criteria are met,” said the commission on Monday.

Commission officials and monetary affairs commissioner Joaquin Almunia are concerned a vote will “only feed populist fears and may court a backlash”.

Swedish voters rejected the euro in 2005 and last year’s French and Dutch referendum rejections of European constitution mean that plebiscites are regarded as highly risky.

“Given the recent experience in France and the Netherlands concerning referendums, we would not advise anyone to organise one,” said a commission official.

Announcing a likely euro referendum in 2010, after Poland meets Brussels criteria in 2009, the country’s finance minister Zyta Gilowska played down fears.

“In my view this is a very good decision. It is the best opportunity to explain to the general public what this is all about,” she said.

The Swedish referendum was lost in September 2003 despite all mainstream political parties and business backing for euro, in a country regarded as EU-friendly.

The vote took place, despite Stockholm’s legal requirement to introduce the euro in Sweden, but came as a referendum on a single currency developed after the country’s 1995 EU membership.

Poland had the euro hardwired into its membership treaty – unlike Sweden – and Warsaw held a June 2003 referendum on EU entry.

“The euro is part and parcel of becoming part of the EU, joining was ratified by referendum, including the euro too,” said the commission official.

Officials insist that Poland is not being pushed to join the euro – the key year will be 2009.

“We are not pushing any country to rush into adopting the euro, we think it is something countries should prepare for,” said the official.

All EU countries are signed up to join the euro except the UK and Denmark, which both have an opt-out.

In 2007, Slovenia will become the first new EU country to join the European single currency.

• Previous article
• Next article