EP president apologies for euro in 2015 remark

Martin Schulz: photo - EPA

"I see that this has caused problems and this was not my intention,” Martin Schulz, who took over from Jerzy Buzek at the turn of the year as president of the European Parliament has said.

Schulz made the remark about Poland joining adopting the euro on Monday, when Prime Minister Tusk and Finance Minister Jacek Rostowski were in Brussels for the informal summit on the new EU fiscal pact.

Both Tusk and Rostowski were surprised by Schulz's remark as the Polish government has made clear that though it is still aims to enter the eurozone and adopt the single currency “at the appropriate time”, that moment is some years off.

Martin Schulz apologized for any confusion he may have caused.

“Prime Minister [Tusk] never mentioned during the meeting [in Brussels] the date of Polish entry into the eurozone. The year 2015 I mentioned was just an example. It might as well be 2017 or 2020. I hope that now everything is clear," the new EP president said.

PM Tusk said on Tuesday that though Poland could meet the criteria for joining the eurozone in three years, the government was looking at a date beyond 2015 for adopting the single currency. (pg)