Malta is another step closer to the euro changeover, with banks yesterday selling the first consumer euro starter kits of e11.65 worth Lm5.

During a press conference held at a BOV branch in Republic Street, Valletta, finance parliamentary secretary Tonio Fenech, yesterday said that since the retail starter kits became available on 1 December, over 14,000 packs were bought and more were ordered.

Mr Fenech was presented with his first euro starter kit during the press conference.

“This means the changeover to the euro in practice,” he said. “The smallest member in the EU is about to adopt the world’s second biggest currency as its own, just three and a half years after EU membership. This will put Malta at the heart of Europe like never before,” he said.

National Euro Changeover Committee (NECC) official Alan Camilleri, reminded the public that Malta adopts the euro on 1 January, and the Maltese euro coins cannot be used before.

He added that January will be a dual circulation period, during which consumers can pay in euro or Maltese currency, but retailers are obliged to give change in euro.

“The ATMs will be gradually switched off on New Year’s Eve in the afternoon to be restocked in euro. All ATMs will be off line between 10pm and midnight. At midnight 60 per cent will perform any transactions in the euro currency while the remaining 40 per cent will be switched on at 4pm on 1 January,” he said.

He encouraged the public to buy a starter kit and use small change instead of euro notes, especially in the first few days, to reduce any problems of cash flow.

NECC executive director Joseph FX Zahra spoke about the NECC’s efforts in creating awareness and added that there was a very good response to the recently launched euro centres.

“I strongly believe that the public is aware that the euro changeover is a historic moment for our country,” he said.