BERLIN - A senior adviser to Chancellor Helmut Kohl yesterday called on the German leader to admit openly that the country would not pass the test this year for a single European currency, and urged a delay in the start of European Monetary Union.
But as Mr Herbert Hax - head of the "five wise men" panel of leading economists who act as semi official advisers to the government - added his voice to the growing chorus of EMUscepticism in Germany, Dr Kohl sought to silence the doubters, declaring that Germany would meet the single currency criteria and that the euro would be started on schedule in 1999.
The Chancellor reiterated his determination to see the euro launched on time in a speech in Berlin. "We will stick to both the agreed launch date and the convergence criteria," he said. He added that the single currency would be "strong and stable".