Eurosystem

Ten years ago, on 1 January 2002, euro banknotes and coins came into circulation in 12 states of the European Union (EU): Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. The introduction of euro cash was one of the most important logistics operations undertaken in Europe.

Since 2002, a further five countries in the European Union have adopted the euro: Slovenia, on 1 January 2007; Cyprus and Malta, on 1 January 2008; Slovakia, on 1 January 2009; and Estonia, on 1 January 2011; Currently, 17 countries make up the Eurozone.

During these ten years, the single currency has become a symbol of integration and co-operation and euro banknotes and coins have become part of our everyday life.

The tenth anniversary of euro banknotes and coins also represents the end of the period for exchanging notes in the former national currencies of Finland, France, Greece and Italy. See close-up  (46 KB).

Commemoration activities

With the title, “The euro. Our currency”, The European Central Bank (ECB), in collaboration with the national central banks in the Eurozone, has undertaken a series of initiatives aimed at celebrating the 10th anniversary of the entry of euro banknotes and coins into circulation:

• “The Euro Run” Competition
  From 1 January to 31 March 2012, an online competition is being held for children, aged 9 to 12, the so-called "euro generation".
• Visitor's day at the ECB
  In the second quarter of 2012 the ECB will open its doors to the public. Through the “Exhibition on the euro”, visitors will have the chance to learn all about euro banknotes and coins, from the history of the money to its production process.
• Video “10th anniversary of euro banknotes and coins”
  The ECB has made a short film on the history of the euro and the security measures on euro banknotes.