Under current rules, to join the eurozone, a state must meet a number of requirements, particularly regarding public debt, budget deficit, and central bank base rates. One of the most important indicators is the inflation rate.
The European Commission expressed its approval of Slovakia's entry into the eurozone as early as spring 2008, and the country received formal permission in the summer. In August, prices in dual currencies appeared in Slovak stores, and the government promised to strictly monitor that prices in euros were not inflated.
According to «Turinfo», as of now, the euro can also be used in Austria, Belgium, Greece, Ireland, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Portugal, Finland, France, Slovenia, Cyprus, and Malta.
According to experts, due to the financial crisis, it is unlikely that any other country from Eastern and Central Europe will be able to join the eurozone in the next few years.