Central Bank chief warns against adopting euro before 2030

48
1
Central Bank chief warns against adopting euro before 2030

Hungarian PM Orban, Finance Minister Varga and Central Bank Governor Matolcsy take part in a business conference in Budapest.

Hungary should not consider adopting the euro before 2030, as joining the single currency zone before its economy is duly prepared would backfire, said central bank governor Gyorgy Matolcsy on Friday.

When Hungary reaches about 90% of the European average level in terms of economic development, Matolcsy said, then the adoption of the single currency could be put on the agenda.

It's dangerous to enter the club of the rich while the economy is unprepared for it, Matolcsy said.

It's worth entering the Eurozone as the euro has many advantages, Matolcsy said.

It's worth using the exceptional room of manoeuvre the Hungarian central bank has to boost the economy, he said.

The National Bank of Hungary is currently grappling with the EU's highest inflation rate, which runs at an annual 24% in April, while the economy is slowing significantly.

Bank of America cut its one-day deposit rate by $100 basis points to 17% last month, launching a policy-easing cycle as high interest rates have effectively stifled borrowing.

Last week, Hungary's Finance Minister Mihaly Varga said Hungary was working to meet the requirements of euro entry, but had no target date to adopt the single currency and the issue was not on the agenda for now.

Austria, Croatia, Slovenia and Slovakia have already adopted the euro among Hungary's EU neighbours.