Slovenia joins "eurozone"

1 Jan, 2007 03:21 / Updated 17 years ago

The Balkan state of Slovenia has become the 13th member of the “euro-zone” and the first among the newest members of the European Union to qualify to use the eurocurrency.

The country is the only one from the 2004 intake that's fulfilled the rigorous criteria needed to join the euro zone.Slovenia's Finance Minister said it was a national project that was extremely important for the country.