What is the Euro zone?
Revision as of 09:10, 12 September 2009 by Mauricio Suzuki (talk | contribs) (New page: The euro is the single currency shared by (2009) 16 of the European Union's Member States, which together make up the euro area.<br/> The introduction of the euro in 1999 was a major step...)
The euro is the single currency shared by (2009) 16 of the European Union's Member States, which together make up the euro area.
The introduction of the euro in 1999 was a major step in European integration. It has also been one of its major successes: around 329 million EU citizens now use it as their currency and enjoy its benefits, which will spread even more widely as other EU countries adopt the euro.
The countries currently using the euro are (by order of adoption):
- Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland - all in 1999
- Greece - 2002
- Slovenia - 2007
- Cyprus and Malta - 2008
- Slovakia - 2009