EN
The goal of the article is to show the degree of differentiation between the countries of Central and Eastern Europe in fulfilling Maastricht nominal criteria. These countries are going to great lengths to prepare themselves to adopt the common currency, though the fundamental indicators within the nominal convergence framework stand, for each country, at various levels. The analysis was conducted in the years 1995–2007 and shows the degree to which standardisation of the range of basic convergence criteria has been accomplished in these countries. The paper answers the question of whether transformational processes have helped these countries come together in terms of nominal convergence and whether joining the EU has accelerated the nominal convergence process in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The research carried out shows that, particularly after entering the EU, the countries generally made great strides towards the nominal adjustment of their economies to Maastricht Treaty requirements. However, the recent downturn in the world financial markets coupled with the growing economic crisis has worsened their economic situation, and consequently the degree to which the Treaty’s requirements have been fulfilled. Moreover, for some countries these criteria should be seen as having been conditionally fulfilled, or as simply not demonstrating visible durability.