The Slovak government wants to strictly punish unjustified price rises after Slovakia introduces the euro in 2009, Prime Minister Robert Fico said on the public Slovak Radio on Saturday. He said that after a decision is made to allow Slovakia join the Eurozone, such measures would be adopted that would prevent merchants misusing the introduction of the new currency to the disadvantage of citizens. He said the government could go as far as making it a criminal offense. "There will certainly be legal regulations in force that would guarantee that when someone deliberately misuses the transition from the Slovak crown to the euro, it could be qualified as a criminal offense, because we do not want to allow something like that happening," he said. The government is also prepared to directly monitor price development of twelve to fifteen basic products, most of all food, where through its inspection bodies it would penalize entities that would misuse transition to the euro. Pensioners, whose living standard is most endangered by entry to the Eurozone would get a so-called Christmas bonus from the government also in 2008. When adoption of the euro in Slovakia is definitely confirmed, Prime Minister Fico said that a one-off increase of pensions should be approved.
The prime minister admitted he has concerns about entry into the Eurozone; however, benefits still greatly exceed disadvantages. "We will be the first country in the region, a standard post-communist country, and the euro can mean a huge impulse for economic growth of the Slovak Republic," he said. Prime Minister Fico finds it unfortunate that the opposition refused to support a joint declaration on social consent regarding adoption of the euro. "Those who planned it, who conceived it, those who declared the plan are now gloating and are refusing to at least sign a declaration on social consent for euro introduction," he complained. He pointed out that with regard to euro introduction the present government took over a commitment from the past.
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