MAASTRICHT CRITERIA

Maastricht Criteria: translation

The criteria, set out in the Treaty of Maastricht, that need to be met by European countries if they wish to become full members of the Economic and Monetary Union. They include:

- inflation of no more than 1.5 percentage points above the average rate of the three member states with the lowest inflation

- a national budget deficit close to or below 3 percent of gross national product

- public debt not exceeding 60 percent of gross national product.

►See alsoEMU, EU, Maastricht Treaty.