The euro
The euro is the legal tender for the 300 million people in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. The symbol for the euro is €.

The euro is used also in Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City, as well as in the Azores, the Canaries, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Madeira, Martinique, Mayotte, Réunion, and Saint Pierre and Miquelon, which are all part of EU countries using the euro.

The euro notes are identical in all countries but each country produces its own coins with one common side and one side displaying a distinctive national emblem. Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City also have their own euro coins. All the notes and coins can be used anywhere in the euro area.

Denmark, Sweden and the United Kingdom are not currently participating in the single currency. The new member states are committed to economic and monetary union but none will be ready to join the euro until at least 2006.

Some retail outlets in countries outside the euro area do accept payment in euro as well as the national currency, but they are not legally obliged to do so.

EU countries using the euro
EU countries not using the euro

More information on the euro