Lithuania and the euro

Lithuania at a glance

Surface area: 65 300 km²
Population: 3 384 879 (Eurostat 2007)
Joined the European Union: 1 May 2004
Currency: litas (LTL)

Euro information

Status: Lithuania is not yet a member of the euro area. The litas joined the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM II) on 28 June 2004 and observes a central rate of 3.45280 to the euro with standard fluctuation margins of ±15%.

Exchange rate: The current euro to litas foreign exchange reference rate can be consulted on the website of the European Central Bank (updated daily).

Adoption of the euro: Lithuania does not have a target date to adopt the euro, but aims to do so as soon as possible, most likely in the period from 2010 onwards, when the government expects the most favourable conditions.

Documents and publications

Practical preparations

• Public Information on the Euro Adoption and Communication Strategy of Lithuania (April 2007, also in English) (doc)
• National Euro Changeover Plan (updated version, April 2007) (doc)
• National Euro Changeover Plan (September 2005, also in English) (doc)
• Cash Changeover Plan (third version, April 2006, also in English) (doc)
• Other documents (also in English)

EU official documents

• Fifth report on the practical preparations for the future enlargement of the euro area. COM(2007) 434 final
• 2006 Convergence Report on Lithuania, published as European Economy, Special Reports, No. 2/2006 
• Lithuanian litas included in the ERM II (27 June 2004) 

Publications

• Informacija apie euro ivedima Lietuvoje. Ka naudinga žinoti? (Information about the adoption of the euro: what is useful to know?) (Bank of Lithuania) 
• Euro ivedimas Lietuvoje: dažniausiai užduodami klausimai (Adoption of the euro in Lithuania – frequently asked questions) (Bank of Lithuania) 

Press releases

• Commission assesses the state of convergence in Lithuania (IP/06/622 of 16/05/2006)

Opinion polls and surveys:

• Flash Eurobarometer 207 (May 2007)
• Flash Eurobarometer 191 (November 2006)
• Flash Eurobarometer 183 (June 2006)

Downloads

• National sides of Lithuanian euro coins

Websites

Euro portals

• Euras Lietuvoje (official website of the euro in Lithuania, also in English)
• Adoption of the euro in Lithuania (section of the Bank of Lithuania’s website, also in English)

Institutions

• Lietuvos bankas (Bank of Lithuania, also in English)
• Finansu ministerija (Ministry of Finance of Lithuania, also in English)

Business

• Lietuvos prekybos, pramones ir amatu rumu asociacija (Association of Lithuanian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Crafts, also in English)
• Euro Info Centres in Lithuania

Consumers

• Vakaru Lietuvos vartotoju federacija (Western Lithuania Consumer Federation)