07/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - According to the director of the Czech national bank, Zdenek Tuma, the Czech Republic may join the eurozone in 2019. In an interview published on Thursday 3 January in the financial weekly, Ekonom, Mr Tuma said that, by that date, the Czech economy would be able to resolve its greatest problems and would be able to benefit from the introduction of single currency, without suffering from any adverse impact that its adoption might have. According to the Czech press agencies, Prague initially wanted to join the eurozone in 2010 but had to discard this plan being unable to reduce its budgetary deficit. In March 2007, the government suggested 2012 as a possible date but the budgetary plan set out in November last did not confirm this date. According to the Czech prime minister, Mirek Topolanek, cited by the Polish press, the greatest obstacles to bringing in the euro are reform of the health and retirement systems. (A.By.)