Latvia applies to enter eurozone

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Latvia has formally applied to join the euro in 2014, in a move which could see it become the 18th member of the bloc.

The move had been expected and comes after the small Baltic state met the required financial criteria.

Latvia suffered a deep recession in the wake of the financial crisis that saw it receive an international bailout.

PM Valdis Dombrovskis imposed big public spending cuts that helped the recovery. Latvia is now one of the fastest-growing economies in the EU.

http://www.bbc.co.uk...siness-21656254

Edited March 5, 2013 by Render

[Jackofalltrades 677]

Do they need to see a shrink ?

[Vlad the Mighty 33,348]

Latvia is now one of the fastest-growing economies in the EU, so that's why they're eager to join the Euro? It's rather like someone in a small boat coming alongside the Titanic and eagerly climbing aboard on one side, while on the other side the lifeboats are going down into the water, isn't it. I can only presume they only read the bit about how generous the lovely people at the EU are with their handouts and Loans, and always click "accept" without bothering with all the small print. ("Your Economy could be at Risk if you do not keep up repayments"). I bet insurance salesmen would love the Latvian government.

[Frank Merton 17,401]

I suspect its because they don't see the Eurozone as the Titanic but instead as a ship going through a storm and they are better off on the big ship than staying out in the storm in the small one they have.

[Vlad the Mighty 33,348]

I suspect its because they don't see the Eurozone as the Titanic but instead as a ship going through a storm and they are better off on the big ship than staying out in the storm in the small one they have.

but their Economy is, as it says, now one of the fastest growing in the EU, and they seem to have steered through the storm and are now hoisting full sail as they pick up the trade winds of prosperity. Whyever would they want to encumber themselves, to thoroughly mix metaphors, with an albatross around their necks now?

[Frank Merton 17,401]

I think Latvia wants to ally itself with Germany and Europe as an offset against Russia.

Economically, the fact that they are doing well for the moment is just that -- for the moment. All countries have their up times and their down times, and planning for down times is important.

[spud the mackem 4,592]

So if Latvia is doing very well, why are thousands of their citizens applying for immigration to other Countries ?..There is a few in my town,working in places like McDonalds, they are friendly people but everyone I've spoken to says Latvia is going down the pan.You dont leave your Homeland if the conditions are good.

[stevewinn 6,288]

WHO IS Latvia? exactly. -

[keithisco 3,956]

The term "Fastest growing economy" is dependent on the underlying economy. If you are coming from a very poor growth base then, what appears to be fast growth may actually be mediocre (comparitively speaking).

[Frank Merton 17,401]

Well I remember not long ago when it was Spain that had the fastest growing European economy.

[Tutankhaten-pasheri 810]

Latvia will fit in well with the EU "democracy", as they did not allow 300,000 Russians classified as "non citizens" to vote in referendum to have Russian as second official language. This is 14% of population denied a vote. But the unelected Baroso and Rompuy will hardly have any concerns about this.

NB, there is a further 27% of population who are ethnic Russians who can vote, though why not allow all Russians to vote, that will be 41% of total vote. Then there are ethnic Ukranians and Belarussians. With their vote there will be nearly 50% Eastern Slavonic speakers in Latvia, yet they are denied official recognition....

[spud the mackem 4,592]

WHO IS Latvia? exactly. -

This bird that works in the chip shop with Nadia, hee hee

[bmk1245 3,035]

Latvia will fit in well with the EU "democracy", as they did not allow 300,000 Russians classified as "non citizens" to vote in referendum to have Russian as second official language. This is 14% of population denied a vote. But the unelected Baroso and Rompuy will hardly have any concerns about this.

NB, there is a further 27% of population who are ethnic Russians who can vote, though why not allow all Russians to vote, that will be 41% of total vote. Then there are ethnic Ukranians and Belarussians. With their vote there will be nearly 50% Eastern Slavonic speakers in Latvia, yet they are denied official recognition....

Ah, lets see:

Non-citizens may naturalize provided that they have been permanent residents of Latvia for at least 5 years, demonstrate Latvian language competency, correctly answer questions regarding Latvia's Constitution and history—including that it was occupied by the Soviet Union (a question debated in Latvian Russian press)^[29] and know the words to the Latvian national anthem.^[30]

(link)

If ethnic minorities don't want, or can't learn Latvian language, remember bits of history, constitution, national anthem, thats not the problem of Latvia.

[Vlad the Mighty 33,348]

and know the words to the Latvian national anthem.

I'm pretty sure that would disqualify a good 70% of the population of most of the countries of the world from citizenship of their own countries, if that was applied universally.

[Vlad the Mighty 33,348]

* Here it is, if anyone wants to cheat:

[Helen of Annoy 23,413]

I'm pretty sure that would disqualify a good 70% of the population of most of the countries of the world from citizenship of their own countries, if that was applied universally.

Depends how bloody your recent history was and how ambitious is the minority that dislikes it.

I'm struggling not to throw whole rant here...

[Tutankhaten-pasheri 810]

Ah, lets see:

(link)

If ethnic minorities don't want, or can't learn Latvian language, remember bits of history, constitution, national anthem, thats not the problem of Latvia.

I know. No anti Latvian problems, just thought I would put those figures in to make topic less one sided

[TheLastLazyGun 388]

Apparently, most Latvians don't want to join the euro, so their government isn't listening to them. Though I suppose their government can't do anything about it considering that Latvia, like all EU countries except Britain and Denmark, must join the euro at some point.

Latvia heads for eurozone despite wary population

http://www.bbc.co.uk...europe-20250163

Edited March 6, 2013 by TheLastLazyGun

[Professor Buzzkill 2,477]

Apparently, most Latvians don't want to join the euro, so their government isn't listening to them. Though I suppose their government can't do anything about it considering that Latvia, like all EU countries except Britain and Denmark, must join the euro at some point.

Latvia heads for eurozone despite wary population

http://www.bbc.co.uk...europe-20250163

It's like governments worldwide are not even pretending to be democracies anymore. And there are many people (even on this forum) who giving away parts of your sovereignty to an unelected elite is a good thing.

[Helen of Annoy 23,413]

It's like governments worldwide are not even pretending to be democracies anymore. And there are many people (even on this forum) who giving away parts of your sovereignty to an unelected elite is a good thing.

What’s the alternative?

Democratic Russia? lol.

EU has its huge faults, but it is useful construction at the moment, from my perspective, which is not that different from Latvian perspective – I guess.

Euroscepticism is fine for people in countries that are not in danger to be pushed into sphere of influence (euphemism for half Europe large gulag) they escaped a while ago for a set of damn good reasons.

It’s easy to forget recent past of others, Latvia for example, but they haven’t forgotten yet.

Too soon. Some 200-300 years too soon. At least.

Edited March 6, 2013 by Helen of Annoy

[Vlad the Mighty 33,348]

So if the mighty EU was not there, then all of Eastern Europe would once again be swallowed up by the Russian Bear? Like the EU would be able to do the slightest thing about it if Putin was to decide to reassemble the USSR?

[Helen of Annoy 23,413]

So if the mighty EU was not there, then all of Eastern Europe would once again be swallowed up by the Russian Bear? Like the EU would be able to do the slightest thing about it if Putin was to decide to reassemble the USSR?

Not so melodramatically, but it's easier to manipulate small entities back into sphere of influence, using endangered Russian bear minorities whose horrible fate was mourned on the page 1. Annoying the **** out me, because the exact same strategy was used over here, even the magic number of 300,000 Orthodox martyrs who lost their god given right to crap on everyone else’s head.

Tell me if I’m paranoid or there was a whole ****en war with intention to hammer my country back into ****en ex-Yugoslavia that never took its nose out of Russian butt.

I apologize for the language I used.

Now I’ll go kick the wall screaming obscenities in historic context.

Edited March 6, 2013 by Helen of Annoy

[OverSword 30,610]

WHO IS Latvia? exactly. -

I think I found it on Wikipedia;

Latveria is a fictional nation in the Marvel Comics Universe. It is an isolated European country ruled by the supervillain Doctor Doom, supposedly located in the Banat region. It is surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains, and also borders Symkaria (home of Silver Sable) to the south. Its capital is Doomstadt.

Edited March 6, 2013 by OverSword

[spud the mackem 4,592]

So they have escaped the Soviet Bloc, to join the Euro Zone,as the saying goes "out of the Frying Pan into the fire",

[keithisco 3,956]

So if the mighty EU was not there, then all of Eastern Europe would once again be swallowed up by the Russian Bear? Like the EU would be able to do the slightest thing about it if Putin was to decide to reassemble the USSR?

You seem to have forgotten that it is NATO that guarantees the apparent Freedom of its members. If Old Eastern Bloc nations elect to join NATO then they also fall under its protection. 21 EU members are also members of NATO (Ireland, Sweden, Finland, Austria, Malta and Cyprus are not) and the two organisations work very closely together.