France is a founding member of the European Union and was one of the first-wave EU countries to adopt the euro on 1 January 1999.
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France at a glance
Surface: 549 090 km2
Population: 63 392 140 (Eurostat 2007, provisional figure)
Joined the European Union: founding member (25 March 1957)
Currency: Euro since 1 January 1999 (formerly French franc, FRF)
Euro information
Status: Euro-area member since 1 January 1999.
Fixed conversion rate: 1 = 6.55957 FRF
Adoption of the euro: The euro banknotes and coins were introduced in France on 1 January 2002, after a transitional period of three years when the euro was the official currency but only existed as ‘book money’. The dual circulation period when both the French franc and the euro had legal tender status ended on 17 February 2002.
Exchange of former national currency: The Banque de France (National Central Bank of France) exchanged French franc coins until 17 February 2005 and will continue to exchange French franc banknotes until 17 February 2012.
Documents and publications
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Documents from the euro changeover are available on the Bank of France website (also in English).
Opinion polls and surveys
- Public opinion and the single currency (Eurobarometer website)
Websites
Euro websites
- The euro on the National Bank of France site (also in English)
- Archived websites on the euro
Institutions
- Banque de France (Bank of France, also in English)
- Ministère de léconomie, des finances et de lemploi (Ministry of Economy, Finance and Employment)
- La Monnaie de Paris (Paris Mint, also in English)
Business
- Euro Info Centres France (in English only)
- Association Française des Banques (French Bank Association, in French only)
Consumers
- Que choisir – UFC (in French only)
