![image: [ The European single currency is due to be launched in 1999 ]](/olmedia/60000/images/_60221_Euromoney.jpg)
The announcements from Austria, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands come as the deadline approaches for countries to say whether they have kept borrowing below 3% of national income.
The condition is one of the key criteria in qualifiying for the single currency as laid down in the Maastricht Treaty. France, Germany and Italy are due to release their figures on Friday.
All members of the European Union wishing to participate in the new currency have to submit their economic statistics by Friday.
Spain and Portugal, once lumped with weaker European economies, announced strong economic data on Wednesday.
Both nations reported their deficits had narrowed comfortably beyond the required 3% of gross domestic product (GDP).
Spain said it cut its budget deficit to 2.6% of GDP in 1997 while Portugal announced it had narrowed deficit to 2.5% of GDP. Both nations had already met inflation and long-term interest rate criteria.
In Holland, the economic figures will be announced in parliament on Thursday but financial experts widely expect public deficit is 1.5% of output.
The Austrian Finance Minister, Rudolf Edlinger, said his country had passed all the tests of membership without any difficulty and there would be no backsliding in 1998 and 1999.
Single Currency - Timetable
(10 Nov 97 | Special Report)
Issues facing the UK presidency
(07 Jan 98 | Special Report)
EU deal over single currency club
(12 Dec 97 | UK)
The Budget and EMU
(23 Nov 97 | Special Report)
Single Currency - Pros and Cons
(07 Nov 97 | Business)
European Monetary Institute
Institutions of the European Union
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Eleven hit euro targets
(From Business)
Calling time on Dutch happy hour
Police join forces to beat hooligans
(From Special Report)
World Court claims authority in Lockerbie dispute
Swiss furious over Mossad 'spy plot'
Rollerblade cops keep villains on straight and narrow
Euro-loser Germany rocks to a new beat
Police break German slavery ring
(From Despatches)
Spanish police chief's $14m costs him 28 years
New Lithuanian President says joining Nato a priority
(From Despatches)
Russia's forgotten Far East
Russian army gets wired
President Yeltsin supports middle class
Formal burial for last Russian tsar
German prosecutors say no charges on army rape video
Israeli prime minister to visit Norway
Political leaders welcome euro figures
Britain sets up hooligan hotline for football World Cup
Istanbul police station attacked
OSCE to open mission in Minsk
France fines author for questioning Nazi Holocaust