The Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)

The Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) is an area that shares the same market, the same currency and a single monetary policy.

Its creation has involved:

  • For domestic economic policies:
    1. The loss of the exchange rate as an adjustment mechanism to combat possible declines in competitiveness.
    2. The impossibility of changing domestic interest rates.
  • For the various markets:
    1. A reduction in transaction costs.
    2. Less uncertainties related to monetary, exchange rate and financial conditions.
    3. A tendency towards the integration of both financial and goods markets.