L 186/32 Official Journal of the European Union 18.7.2007 COUNCIL DECISION of 10 July 2007 in accordance with Article 122(2) of the Treaty on the adoption by Malta of the single currency on 1 January 2008 (2007/504(EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 122(2) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the report from the Commission (%), Having regard to the report from the European Central Bank (2), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (3), Having regard to the discussion of the Council, meeting in the composition of Heads of State or Government, Whereas: (1) The third stage of economic and monetary union (EMU) started on 1 January 1999. The Council, meeting in Brussels on 3 May 1998 in the composition of Heads of State or Government, decided that Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Neth- erlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland fulfilled the necessary conditions for adopting the single currency on 1 January 1999 (4. () The Council decided on 19 June 2000 that Greece fulfilled the necessary conditions for adopting the single currency on 1 January 2001 (). The Council decided on 11 July 2006 that Slovenia fulfilled the necessary conditions for adopting the single currency on 1 January 2007 (%). (3) In accordance with paragraph 1 of the Protocol on certain provisions relating to the United Kingdom of (1) Report adopted on 16 May 2007. (®) Report adopted on 16 May 2007. (}) Opinion delivered on 20 June 2007 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (%) Decision 98/317/EC (O] L 139, 11.5.1998, p. 30). () Decision 2000/427/EC (O] L 167, 7.7.2000, p. 19). (¥) Decision 2006/495/EC (O] L 195, 15.7.2006, p. 25). —_— Great Britain and Northern Ireland annexed to the Treaty, the United Kingdom notified the Council that it did not intend to move to the third stage of EMU on 1 January 1999. This notification has not been changed. In accordance with paragraph 1 of the Protocol on certain provisions relating to Denmark annexed to the Treaty and the Decision taken by the Heads of State or Government in Edinburgh in December 1992, Denmark has notified the Council that it will not parti- cipate in the third stage of EMU. Denmark has not requested that the procedure referred to in Article 122(2) of the Treaty be initiated. (4) By virtue of Decision 98/317/EC, Sweden has a dero- gation as defined in Article 122 of the Treaty. In accordance with Article 4 of the 2003 Act of Accession (7), the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland and Slovakia have a derogation as defined in Article 122 of the Treaty. In accordance with Article 5 of the 2005 Act of Accession (%), Bulgaria and Romania have a derogation as defined in Article 122 of the Treaty. (5)  The European Central Bank (ECB) was established on 1 July 1998. The European Monetary System has been replaced by an exchange rate mechanism, the setting-up of which was agreed by a resolution of the European Council of 16 June 1997 on the establishment of an exchange-rate mechanism in the third stage of economic and monetary union (°). The procedures for an exchange-rate mechanism in stage three of economic and monetary union (ERM II) were laid down in the Agreement of 1 September 1998 between the ECB and the national central banks of the Member States outside the euro area laying down the operating procedures for an exchange rate mechanism in stage three of economic and monetary union (19). (6)  Article 122(2) of the Treaty lays down the procedures for abrogation of the derogation of the Member States concerned. According to that Article, at least once every two years, or at the request of a Member State with a derogation, the Commission and the ECB are to report to the Council in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 121(1) of the Treaty. On 27 February 2007, Malta submitted a formal request for a convergence assessment. L 236, 23.9.2003, p. 33. 0J OJ L 157, 21.6.2005, p. 203. OJ C 236, 2.8.1997, p. 5. p. 6. Agreement as amended by the Agreement of 14 September 2000 (O] C 362, 16.12.2000, p. 11).