The euro - the EU single currency

Latest business news about the euro - the Common Currency of the European Union

Criminals dumping weak US dollar for euro — 23 August 2008, 00:43 CET

The weakened US dollar has fallen out of favor with organized crime groups to pay for drug shipments or to settle scores, a Canadian government report said Friday.

Slovakia starts producing euro coins — 19 August 2008, 23:10 CET

Slovakia, which will adopt the euro currency from January next year, began producing its own euro coins on Tuesday, said the country's Mint at Kremnica.

Greeks sit on early 250 million euros in old drachma: central bank — 29 July 2008, 13:22 CET

Greeks are still clinging onto nearly 250 million euros (393 million dollars) in old drachmas six years after the historic currency was phased out, the Bank of Greece said on Tuesday.

Slovakia preps isolated Roma for switch to euro — 26 July 2008, 10:17 CET

Slovakia, which adopts the euro in six months, is putting its money where its mouth is with a drive to help its long-neglected gypsy minority with the switch to the official EU currency.

Slovakia preps isolated Roma for switch to euro — 17 July 2008, 10:02 CET

Slovakia, which adopts the euro in six months, is putting its money where its mouth is with a drive to help its long-neglected gypsy minority with the switch to the official EU currency.

Review of the international role of the euro — 10 July 2008, 23:26 CET

The European Central Bank (ECB) published on 9 July 2008 its "Review of the international role of the euro", focusing on developments during the year 2007.

Cyprus consumers get more time for euro changeover — 10 July 2008, 20:00 CET

Cyprus's parliament has approved legislation extending the period for displaying prices of goods and services in both euros and Cypriot pounds.

Church and actors recruited for Slovakia's euro conversion campaign — 07 July 2008, 10:26 CET

Priests and actors have been recruited to get the euro message across in Slovakia as the country's preparations for eurozone membership get ready to move up a gear when the koruna's conversion rate is fixed by European finance ministers on Tuesday.

Bulgaria chooses heritage site to adorn euro coins — 29 June 2008, 23:58 CET

Bulgaria chose a UNESCO-protected heritage site, the Madara Rider rock relief, as a symbol of the country to be pictured on its euro coins, in a ceremony televised live on Sunday.

Slovakia set to ignite central European euro adoption debate — 10 June 2008, 12:14 CET

Slovakia's clear run at joining Europe's single currency is set to spark debate among neighbours in central Europe about how fast they should follow suit.

Growing number of Danes oppose switching to euro, poll shows — 09 June 2008, 13:59 CET

While nearly half of Danes favour swapping their krone with the euro, there is mounting scepticism in the Scandinavian country to joining the eurozone, a poll suggests.

Czech central bank chief sees no new euro members for 4-5 years — 06 June 2008, 16:47 CET

Czech Central Bank governor Zdenek Tuma predicted Friday that after Slovakia joins the eurozone next year no other countries would adopt the European single currency for four or five years.

Oil futures leap as dollar skids against euro — 05 June 2008, 22:51 CET

Oil prices leap higher in a surge that took traders by surprise as the dollar tumbles against the euro and the rally drew in fresh investor cash.

France to issue gold and silver euro coins — 27 May 2008, 14:32 CET

France will issue a special edition of five, 10 and 100 euro coins in gold and silver from September, the Paris Mint and the national postal service said Tuesday.

South America eyes common currency — 26 May 2008, 22:32 CET

South America is thinking of creating a common currency and a central bank along the lines of those in the European Union's euro-zone, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Monday.

Majority of Danes in favour of adopting euro, poll suggests — 09 May 2008, 19:00 CET

A majority of Danes are in favour of abolishing opt-outs that enable Denmark to remain outside the eurozone and the European Union's joint defence and judiciary cooperation, a poll published Friday suggested.

2008 Convergence Report of the European Commission — 07 May 2008, 17:56 CET

The European Commission concluded on 7 May 2008 that Slovakia meets the criteria for adopting the euro and made a proposal to the Council to this effect. The regular Convergence Report on euro readiness, adopted by the Commission, shows that the other nine countries with a so-called 'derogation' have made progress on the road to the single currency, but do not yet meet all the conditions for euro adoption. The Council of EU finance ministers (ECOFIN) will take the final decision on the adoption of the euro in Slovakia in July, after Parliament has given its opinion and EU heads of state and government have discussed the subject at their summit meeting in June.

EMU and the euro - guide — 07 May 2008, 17:50 CET

The euro is the single currency shared by 15 of the European Union's Member States - Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Finland, Greece, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta - which together make up the eurozone. Around 317 million EU citizens now use the euro as their currency.

EU urges tighter policing of eurozone economies — 07 May 2008, 17:57 CET

EU policing of public finances in eurozone countries should be extended to include governments' broader economic management, the European Commission recommended on Wednesday as the euro's tenth birthday approaches.

Towards EMU@10 - Research resources — 02 May 2008, 19:35 CET

This umbrella project embraces a wide array of research activities to mark 10 years of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). In May 2008, it will be 10 years since the final decision in May 1998 to move to the third and final stage of EMU - together with the decision on which Member States would participate – followed by the launch of the euro on 1 January 1999. The project has three dimensions: assessing the economic achievements of the euro area’s first decade; identifying current and future challenges; and developing policy proposals in response to those challenges.

Euro causing drop in UK tourists to Greece: minister — 15 April 2008, 18:37 CET

Greece expects a big drop in the number of tourists this year from Britain, its most frequent visitors, because of the strong euro, Tourist Minister Aris Spiliotopoulos warned on Tuesday.

Majority of Danes favour adopting euro: poll — 04 April 2008, 18:32 CET

Most Danes are in favour of replacing the Danish krone with the euro, a poll published in the Boersen financial daily on Friday showed.

Italy busts euro coin counterfeiting ring: EU — 01 April 2008, 19:43 CET

Italian police have broken a ring of counterfeiters making fake euro coins of the highest quality, the European Commission said Tuesday.

Poland should be ready for euro adoption by 2012: prime minister — 20 March 2008, 20:23 CET

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Thursday his country should be ready to adopt the euro in 2012.

Venezuela opts for oil contracts in euros: report — 15 March 2008, 23:18 CET

Venezuelan state oil giant PDVSA has decided to sign some oil contracts in euros in the face of a plummeting dollar, local media reported, citing officials.