Whats the deal with the Euro?
The Euro unites 11 nations under one common currency. Though introduced electronically in January 1999, Euro notes and coins went into public circulation on January 1, 2002. Monetary policy for the common currency will be controlled by the European Central Bank. Of the 15 members of the European Union, 11 began using the Euro this year: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. Four others, Denmark,Greece, Sweden, and Britain, have opted to take a “wait and see” attitude before joining. For travelers, the Euro has greatly simplified making purchases when traveling abroad. You’ll be able to compare the price of similar goods between countries and the cost of converting between currencies will be eliminated.
