This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 January 2009.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in the Member States in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community.

Done at Brussels, 8 July 2008.

For the Council

The President

C. LAGARDE

( 1 ) Opinion of 3 July 2008 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

( 2 ) OJ L 139, 11.5.1998, p. 1 . Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 836/2007 ( OJ L 186, 18.7.2007, p. 3 ).

( 3 ) OJ L 300, 29.11.2000, p. 2 .

( 4 ) OJ L 346, 29.12.2005, p. 1 .

( 5 ) OJ L 309, 9.11.2006, p. 2 .

( 6 ) OJ L 186, 18.7.2007, p. 1 .

( 7 ) See page 24 of this Official Journal.

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 693/2008 of 8 July 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 974/98 as regards the introduction of the euro in Slovakia ANNEX