Entering the single European currency should be a boost to Slovakia during the global financial crisis, according to the prime minister.

Robert Fico said the country should be able to avoid some of the problems that other non-eurozone nations in the EU have experienced.

Speaking to Reuters, he stated that the merits of adopting the euro next month are highly apparent when one looks at the current turmoil on the international markets.

Mr Fico commented: "When we see how the financial crisis is wrecking some national currencies, how some small countries with open economies are having troubles, we perceive the euro even more positively."

He added that he now considers the decision to switch to the euro more important than he originally did back in 2006.

This comes after credit ratings agency Standard & Poor's tipped Slovakia to attract more foreign investment following its currency changeover.