The month that starts tomorrow will be the last one with the lira as the legal currency used in Malta.

As from 1 January, the euro will be replacing the lira. The two currencies will both be used during a transition period that will end with the phasing out of the current coins and notes that will be substituted by those already in use in half of Europe.

Apart from the fact that it will no longer be necessary to exchange money each time we travel, the introduction of the euro will make things much easier for business. It will also make Malta more attractive for investment, and, if over the past years foreign investment rose sharply with the lira still in place, one expects that the new currency will bring about a sustained interest in Malta.

The National Euro Changeover Committee has worked tremendously hard over the past months to make sure that everything is in order. The way the committee organised what is definitely a difficult job has to be commended by one and all.

In fact, little, if any, criticism was levelled at the NECC. After the initial disputes with the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises, matters soon settled down and the changeover process moved on very smoothly. The Labour Party constantly tries to find every needle in the government’s haystack, but it has kept its mouth shut on NECC operations, which means that it could find nothing negative to say about them.

The NECC has also received the plaudits from Europe on the way it planned the changeover process. The extensive campaigns to make people aware of what the changeover entails, and to help them get used to the new currency – to mention just one area of the NECC’s competency since it was set up – have enabled the people to learn as much as possible about what will happen.

So much so that according to the latest survey, 99 per cent of the Maltese are now aware that the euro will be introduced as from 1 January, seven per cent more than the Cypriot population. Let us also not forget that the NECC was asked to help the Cypriots in their planning for the changeover in that country, which will also take place on 1 January – an hour before us, to be precise, considering the time difference. The same survey showed that more and more Maltese are familiar with the notes, while more than half the population has already used the euro currency, possibly in their travels.

Of course, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating. There will be problems after 1 January, and it will take some time to adjust to the new system. The initial weeks, when both currencies will still be in use, will be quite confusing and will add more work, especially to people who will be receiving payments in the Maltese lira and having to give change in the euro.

But with patience – we are sure that there will be longer queues in most shops – and with goodwill we will pass this test.

This last month will see a final push from the NECC in its preparations for the changeover. There will be no Christmas holidays for them this year, but this is a sacrifice that is necessary in the circumstances. In a year’s time, perhaps less, the euro will be ingrained in our system and we would have probably forgotten about the lira. And we would no longer need the calculators and booklets to help us get along.

By then, we would have starting thinking in euros.