Official name: European Union
European Union uses euro since 1 January 2002 1 euro = 100 cents ; ISO code = EUR 978
2. THE EUROZONE
The eurozone, officially called the euro area, is a monetary union of 20 of the 27 European Union (EU) member states which have adopted the euro (€) as their common currency and sole legal tender. The monetary authority of the eurozone is the Eurosystem. The other nine members of the European Union continue to use their own national currencies, although most of them are obliged to adopt the euro in the future.
The ECB, which is governed by a president and a board of the heads of national central banks, sets the monetary policy of the zone. The principal task of the ECB is to keep inflation under control. Though there is no common representation, governance or fiscal policy for the currency union, some co-operation does take place through the Eurogroup, which makes political decisions regarding the eurozone and the euro. The Eurogroup is composed of the finance ministers of eurozone states, but in emergencies, national leaders also form the Eurogroup.
Since the financial crisis of 2007–08, the eurozone has established and used provisions for granting emergency loans to member states in return for enacting economic reforms. The eurozone has also enacted some limited fiscal integration, for example in peer review of each other’s national budgets. The issue is political and in a state of flux in terms of what further provisions will be agreed for eurozone change.
EUROZONE
1998
Austria
Belgium
Finland
France
Germany
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Portugal
Spain
Greece (2000)
Slovenia (2007)
Cyprus (2008)
Malta (2008)
Slovakia (2009)
Estonia (2011)
Latvia (2014)
Lithuania (2015)
Croatia (2023)
ERM (Exchange Rate Mechanism) II
The danish krone was left at that time as the only participant member.
Denmark
APPLIED FOR ERM II
ERM II by July 2020, Euro by 1 January 2024
Bulgaria
OTHER EU MEMBER
Not in ERM II, but obliged to join the eurozone on meeting convergence criteria.
Czech Republic
Hungary
Poland
Romania
Sweden
Since 31 of January of 2020 the United Kingdom is not anymore a EU member (Brexit).
United Kingdom
MONETARY AGREEMENT
The euro is also used in countries outside the EU, four states:
In 01.01.2002 with issuing rights in 01.07.2013.
Andorra
In 01.01.1999 with issuing rights in 01.01.2002 — had signed formal agreements with the EU to use the euro and issue their own coins. Nevertheless, they are not considered part of the eurozone by the ECB and do not have a seat in the ECB or Euro Group.
Monaco
San Marino
Vatican City
UNILATERALLY ADOPTED
Officially adopted in 01.01.2002 the euro as their sole currency without an agreement and, therefore, have no issuing rights. These states are not considered part of the eurozone by the ECB. However, sometimes the term eurozone is applied to all territories that have adopted the euro as their sole currency.
Kosovo
Montenegro
Dependent territories of EU member states — outside EU
Five of the dependent territories of EU member states not part of the EU, have adopted the euro:
Akrotiri and Dhekelia (British territory, with Cyprus ensuring eurozone laws are implemented, adopted 2008-01-01, replacing cypriot pound)
Collectivity of Saint Martin (French territory, with France ensuring eurozone laws are implemented)
Territorial collectivity of Saint Barthélemy (French territory, with France ensuring eurozone laws are implemented)
Overseas Collectivity of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon (French territory, with France ensuring eurozone laws are implemented)
French Southern and Antarctic Lands (French territory, with France ensuring eurozone laws are implemented)