Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

Personal tools
Sections
You are here: Home europe Latvia Latvia 18th EU Member State to adopt the euro

Latvia 18th EU Member State to adopt the euro

31 December 2013
by eub2 -- last modified 31 December 2013

Following Latvia's adoption of the euro on 1 January 2014 - the 15th anniversary of the launch of the euro in 1999 - 18 Member States and 333 million Europeans share the same currency. This is a major achievement for Latvia and for the euro area as a whole. Latvians start withdrawing euro cash and paying for their purchases in euro. This has been made possible thanks to thorough preparations ahead of the introduction of the EU's single currency.


Advertisement

From 1 January 2014, the euro gradually replaces the lats as the currency of Latvia. A dual circulation period last for two weeks, during which the two currencies circulate alongside each other in order to allow for a progressive withdrawal of Latvian lats. When receiving a payment in lats, the change will be given in euro.

1) The introduction of euro cash in the Latvian economy

Commercial banks have received euro banknotes and coins in advance from the Latvian Central Bank, the Bank of Latvia, and have in turn supplied euro cash to shops and other businesses.

A total of 800,000 starter kits with euro coins bearing Latvian national sides have been available to the general public since 10 December. Moreover, 70,000 dedicated starter kits have been offered to retailers.

As of 1 January, the Bank of Latvia will change unlimited amounts of lats into euro at the official conversion rate (1 EUR = 0.702804 LVL) for an unlimited period of time and free of charge. Commercial banks will provide unlimited cash exchange services free of charge until 30 June 2014 and post offices until 31 March 2014.

Nearly all automatic teller machines in Latvia will distribute euro banknotes within the first 30 minutes of 1 January 2014. To facilitate the process, some banks have extended business hours. On 1 January, 22 branches of the three largest banks will be open during the afternoon. Several banks will deploy additional staff for cash operations in branches during the dual circulation period. Post offices will not open on 1 January, but against usual practice will do so on the following Saturday (4 January 2014).

2) The conversion of prices

Prices have had to be displayed both in lats and euro since 1 October 2013 and this rule will apply until 30 June 2014. In order to address consumers' concerns about price increases and abusive practices in the changeover period, a "Fair Euro Introducer" campaign was launched in July 2013. It calls on businesses (e.g. retailers, financial institutions, internet shops) to commit not to misuse the changeover for their own profit, to respect the changeover rules and to provide the necessary assistance to their clients.

Compliance with the requirements for price display and conversion during the dual display period and the implementation of the "Fair Euro Introducer" campaign is monitored in particular by the Consumer Rights Protection Centre. It may impose fines and put the names of enterprises that do not observe the "Fair Euro Introducer" Memorandum on a publicly available "black list".

Background

On 5 March this year, Latvia formally asked the European Commission to deliver an extraordinary convergence report with the aim of joining the euro from 1 January 2014.

On 5 June, the Commission concluded that Latvia meets the criteria for adopting the euro. On 9 July, the EU Finance Ministers took the formal decision opening the way for Latvia's adoption of the euro.

Thereafter, Latvia started preparing the changeover to the euro by implementing its national changeover plan, providing all the details for the organisation of the introduction of the euro and the withdrawal of the lats. This set, for instance, the timetable for supplies of euro cash to commercial banks and to retailers, the rules for cash exchanges for citizens to be applied before and after its "day one" of the euro, the strategy for adapting bank accounts, electronic payments systems and ATMs to the euro etc.

The preparations for the changeover have been complemented by a comprehensive communication campaign of the Latvian authorities. The Commission and the European Central Bank have contributed to these efforts.

European Commission website on Latvia's euro

Latvia's national euro changeover web site

Sponsor a Guide

EUbusiness Guides offer background information and web links about key EU business issues.

Promote your services by providing your own practical information and help to EUbusiness members, with your brand and contact details.

To sponsor a Guide phone us on +44 (0)20 7193 7242 or email sales.

EU Guides