Fiscal and monetary policies were implemented vigorously and the targets of the last two convergence programmes were met, thus placing Greece directly on the road to joining the euro-zone by 1 January 2001.
Three of the four convergence criteria of Article 109j(1) of the Treaty - the government budgetary position and public debt, the exchange rate and long-term interest rates - are already fully satisfied, and the fourth - the criterion on price stability - will be fulfilled by the end of this month.