TALLINN, March 31 (Reuters) - Estonia's government said on Tuesday it would aim for the country to adopt the euro on January 1, 2011 as its base scenario, though it kept open the idea of trying to switch over in July 2010.
"According to the knowledge we have now it is realistic enough to set January 1, 2011 as the deadline for joining the euro," the government said in a statement.
"Although the base scenario sees the joining of the euro zone on Jan 1, 2011, they (ministers) decided to keep open the possibility of joining on July 1, 2010," the statement said.
The European Commission has poured cold water on the idea of Estonia adopting the single currency as soon as next year. (Reporting by David Mardiste, writing by Patrick Lannin; Editing by Ron Askew)