Nationalist MEP David Casa is to be nominated as the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee's rapporteur for Slovakia's 2009 euro changeover.

Mr Casa will report to the European Parliament on Slovakia's progress towards euro adoption, which will take place on January 1, 2009.

Mr Casa said: "It is an important moment since I will be assisting a new EU country to adopt the currency that Malta will introduce in January. Along with the (European) Commission, I have to make sure that the institutional problems faced by Malta and Cyprus this year are tackled. The Commission should allow all the necessary time for Parliament for evaluate the progress of Slovakia."

The European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee monitors the progress made by countries aspiring to join the Eurozone. Its report, as was the case with Malta, will be presented to the plenary session to formulate the European Parliament's opinion.

Although the International Monetary Fund said that Slovakia should be getting the green light to adopt the euro, the European Central Bank has warned the Slovak government several times to keep spending under control.

Mr Casa said: "All countries that aspire to enter the Eurozone must meet the Maastricht criteria. That is why it is very important that the report reflects the reality in Slovakia."

His appointment has been welcomed by various MEPs, including Zsolt Laszlo Becsey from Hungary, who is also a committee member.

Mr Becsey said: "It's a privilege for Malta and David Casa himself to receive the responsibility to conduct this assignment. Slovakia is the first country from the former Soviet countries to apply, with a good chance, to enter into the Eurozone."

Mr Becsey said there were mixed feelings about former Soviet countries and their entry into the Eurozone, so Mr Casa had an important and historical role to play in expressing an opinion over whether Slovakia should adopt the euro or not.