FIFTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME

This paper first touches upon the definition and purpose of the Maastricht convergence criteria, and next analyses the rules, procedures, methodology and interpretation of meeting the Maastricht convergence criteria. It is shown how acceding countries presently fulfill the Maastricht convergence criteria and how the present EMU countries complied with them at a comparable time distance before their own entry in EMU. Some of the related issues, such as monetary and fiscal policy, coordination among economic policies and relationship between nominal and real convergence are dealt with only as much as they have a bearing on the fulfillment of the Maastricht convergence criteria