[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 25 (Monday, June 26, 2000)]
[Pages 1407-1408]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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.

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