Lithuania's Adamkus Expects 7% Economic Growth, Euro in 2007

Lithuania, the fastest-growing economy in Europe last year, will expand 7 percent a year through 2007, helped by 2.5 billion euros ($3.3 billion) of European Union aid and foreign investments, President Valdas Adamkus said. ``There are still huge untapped opportunities'' in the Lithuanian economy, Adamkus, a 78-year-old former U.S. citizen, said in an interview in London. ``For the next three years, we'll continue growing at 7 percent without doubt.'' The former Soviet Baltic state of 3.5 million people is one of 10 nations that joined the European Union in May. Its $18 billion economy expanded 9.7 percent last year. The rapid pace of growth and EU financial aid is helping Lithuania keep its budget deficit down, meeting a key requirement for euro adoption. Adamkus said there were no obstacles to switching to the euro within three years together with Estonia and Slovenia. The three EU entrants on June 27 started a two-year test of currency stability and could get the currency as soon as 2006. ``We are ready to introduce euros in an orderly and safe way,'' said Adamkus. ``Lithuanians will have euros in 2007.'' Lithuania already meets terms to limit the budget deficit, state debt and interest rates, and is close to the current 2.5 percent inflation target. Annual inflation slowed to 3 percent in October from 3.3 percent a month earlier.