The paper takes into account both the concerns of the EU, arguing that convergence is incomplete, and the demands from accession countries, claiming that monetary integration is optimal. Indicators are developed which measure convergence and optimality in comparison with a reference group of the...

The EU-accession of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Hungary in 2004 is more and more probable. Bulgaria and Romania may possibly enter in 2007. In order to later join the EMU, these countries have to meet the Maastricht Criteria. This paper reviews...