MEP David Casa yesterday had two meetings at the European Central Bank in Frankfurt when he met Jean-Claude Trichet, president of the ECB, the vice-presidents and members of the executive board and directors of the bank.

During the first meeting technical matters were discussed, particularly the Slovak application to join the euro zone – Mr Casa is the rapporteur of the European Parliament's Committee for Economic and Monetary Affairs on the subject.

The main issues that were discussed were Slovakia's economy, the inflation rate and investment, and the logistical preparation for adaptation of the currency in this former Communist bloc country.

Later, the Nationalist MEP joined a European Parliamentary delegation led by the president of the Committee for Economic and Monetary Affairs, Prevenche Béres, for discussions with a delegation from the European Central Bank.

Mr Casa is expected to visit Bratislava in the beginning of next year, when he will have further meetings with Slovak government ministers regarding the Maastricht criteria that must be achieved to join the eurozone.