Poland’s new-found enthusiasm for joining Europe’s 10-year-old monetary union is finding echoes across the continent, where the euro is seen as a shelter against foreign exchange crises.

Denmark is arguably best placed to meet the eurozone entry criteria – and has a clear incentive. While other central banks have slashed official interest rates, Denmark’s was forced last Friday to raise its main rate for the second time this month to defend the krone, demonstrating the cost to the country of staying outside the eurozone. The pro-euro camp could “point to this situation and show that staying outside does really have a price,” said Steen Bocian, chief economist at Danske Bank, the country’s largest bank.