Which European Union Member States have adopted the euro?
Twelve of the 15 European Union Member States have adopted the euro. Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland adopted the euro from the outset, i.e. from 1 January 1999, while Greece joined the euro zone on 1 January 2001. In May 1998, when the decision was taken on who should adopt the euro, Greece had not met the convergence criteria (standards of economic performance for joining the Monetary Union). However, in June 2000, the European Summit in Santa Maria da Feira decided that Greece can join as it has since achieved significant progress towards meeting the criteria. Sweden, Denmark and the United Kingdom remain outside the euro zone. In 1998, Sweden fulfilled three of the four convergence criteria (price stability, government budgetary position and convergence of interest rates) but it chose not to apply for euro membership at that time. Neither the United Kingdom nor Denmark have applied to adopt the euro; they ne
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- Wasn there a European Union flag with 15 stars? Why does the EU flag have only twelve stars when the Council of Europe, whose flag was adopted by the EU, began with 15 members in 1953?
- Which European Union Member States have adopted the European single currency - the euro?
- Which European Union Member States have adopted the euro?
