Latvia a liberal economy and its re-orientation toward Western Europe, Latvia is one of the fastest growing economies in the European Union. In 2014, Riga was the European Capital of Culture, the euro was introduced as the currency of the country and a Latvian was named vice-president of the European Commission. In 2015 Latvia held the presidency of Council of the European Union. Big European events have been celebrated in Riga such as the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 and the European Film Awards 2014. On 1 July 2016, Latvia became a member of the OECD. Latvia lies in Northern Europe, on
Bank of Latvia On September 7, 1922, the Constitutional Assembly adopted the Law on the Establishment of the Bank of Latvia. The Bank of Latvia was granted emission rights. The Bank's interim statutes were approved on September 19, 1922, with the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers, and its initial capital was 10 million lats. On April 24, 1923, Saeima approved the Statute of the Bank of Latvia, signed by President Jānis Čakste on the 2nd July. The bank was headed by a council and board. The Council consisted of a chairman, a deputy and 11 members, but the board included a director