The Greek government has said the country is on course to meet the economic criteria set out in the Maastricht treaty and will join the single currency in the year 2001.

The prime minister, Costas Simitis, said he would stick to the austerity programme and anti-inflationary policies adopted last December to prepare his country for the Euro.

The BBC correspondent in Athens says while noisy protests against government policy have become a regular feature of life in Greece, most people are in favour of joining the single currency.