Premier Hongarije: invoering euro in 2010 onrealistisch (en)

Hungarian centre-left prime minister Ferenc Gyurcsany has admitted an earlier plan for his country to join the euro in 2010 is "unrealistic," with analysts expecting entry could be postponed a further three or four years.

Speaking to journalists after coalition talks on adoption of the euro on Tuesday (15 August), Mr Guyrcsany said his country is set to resume fiscal stability in line with the so-called Maastricht criteria underpinning the euro between 2008 and 2010.

It usually takes two years after a state meets those criteria - including a public deficit below 3 percent of GDP - to join the EU's common currency, but analysts predict a most likely date for Budapest to adopt the euro is 2013 or 2014, according to Portfolio, a Hungarian financial journal.

Mr Guyrcsany hopes to get the go-ahead for his team's emergency plan to cut the current budget deficit - set to be approved in Budapest on 31 August - from EU finance ministers later this year.

However, the plan will probably not include a concrete entry date - a move criticised by the opposition.