The euro is the new money for eleven EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. Greece will become a euro country from 1 January 2001. Denmark and the United Kingdom decided not to join the euro yet. Sweden did not meet the necessary conditions for joining. These three EU States may still join at some time in the future.

There will be seven notes and eight coins. The notes will look the same in each of the countries joining the euro. The coins will have a national symbol on one side. In Ireland there will be a harp and the word "Éire" on one side of the coins. You will be able to use these notes and coins in all eleven EU countries of the euro area.

The notes and coins will be circulated to the public on 1 January 2002. From that date you can go into a bank and convert your money to euro. When you buy goods in a shop your change will be in euro. ATM machines will give out euro.