VIENNA, Nov 23 (Reuters) - The Baltic state of Estonia could secure approval in June 2010 to adopt the euro currency in 2011 if everything goes well, the European Union's top monetary policy official was quoted on Monday as saying. "For 2011 there is one possible candidate (to adopt the euro): Estonia," Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia was quoted as saying in an interview with Austrian weekly magazine Profil.
"This country has made good progress towards fulfilling the criteria. If everything goes well, we could in June 2010 give the green light for the 17th member (of the euro zone)," Almunia said.
Estonia's deputy central bank head Marten Ross said last week the country could meet the conditions for adopting the euro by spring next year and the budget would be the biggest hurdle in the process. Jean-Claude Juncker, who chairs regular meetings of euro zone finance ministers, had voiced doubt in July over whether Estonia would reach its goal of euro entry in 2011, saying it was likely to meet the entry criteria in two to three years. (Reporting by Boris Groendahl, editing by Dale Hudson) ((boris.groendahl@reuters.com; +43 1 53112-258; Reuters Messaging: boris.groendahl.reuters.com@reuters.net))