Euro area

Today, around 340 million citizens in 19 countries live in the euro area. This number will increase as future enlargements of the euro area continue to spread the benefits of the single currency more widely in the European Union.

What is the euro area?

The euro area consists of those Member States of the European Union that have adopted the euro as their currency.

Euro coins and notes

Euro coins
Euro banknotes
Exchanging national cash
Copyright and reproduction rules of euro coins and notes
Euro cash in transit
National central banks and mints in the European Union

The benefits of the euro

The euro was created because a single currency offers many advantages and benefits over the previous situation where each Member State had its own currency

Enlargement of the euro area

Who can join and when?
Convergence criteria for joining
Convergence Reports

Introducing the euro

Scenarios for adopting the euro
Preparing for the cash changeover
Adoption of the fixed euro conversion rate

The international role of the euro

The euro could develop further its global role, reflecting the euro area’s economic and financial weight.

Anti-counterfeiting

Anti-counterfeiting measures
Legislation against euro-counterfeiting
The European Technical and Scientific Centre (ETSC)
Pericles 2020 programme – Exchanges, assistance & training
Cooperation forums
The Pericles IV programme

Public opinion on the euro

It is essential to monitor the state of public opinion on the euro and understand the underlying factors which influence it.

Related links