[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
[June 19, 2000]
[Page 1184]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Greece's Entry Into the Economic and Monetary Union
June 19, 2000

    I congratulate Prime Minister Simitis and the Greek people on the decision today at 
the EU Summit in Portugal to bring Greece into the EU's Economic and 
Monetary Union (EMU), effective January 1, 2001. Reaching agreement to 
become a full member of the EMU a year before the euro currency is 
introduced demonstrates Greece's remarkable economic progress in recent 
years. This economic success complements Greece's increasingly active 
political role within the EU.
    Through determination and hard work, Greece succeeded in meeting all 
the Maastricht Treaty economic criteria. Entry into the EMU is not the 
end of the race but the start of a challenging new phase of economic 
reform. We wish the Hellenic Republic every success as it moves ahead 
and hope this will usher in a new era of increased trade and investment 
between our two nations.