Poland will announce its readiness to join the euro zone in 2009, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Zyta Gilowska told a business and political audience attending the Economic Forum in Krynica, southern Poland, on Wednesday.

"... everything indicates that we will meet the convergence criteria by 2009 ..." Gilowska was quoted by the PAP news agency.

So far Poland has not stated any date for joining the euro zone. Most economists agree that the year 2012 is a realistic option.

Gilowska also declared that Poland would set up a financial stability committee this year. Its task would be to promptly react to crises in financial markets. Similar institutions are in existence in Italy, Britain and France, Gilowska said.

In her opinion, energy security and financial system security were the greatest challenges facing the EU.

Europe has a bright future if Poland manages to cope with the main challenges, such as energy and financial security, Gilowska said.