The Euro The Euro became valid on 01/01/1999 but the coins and notes were first introduced on 01/01/2002. The Euro completely replaced the old currency on 01/07/2002; the old currency wasn’t valid anymore. The countries that are participating and qualify to be a part of the economic and monetary union are, Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, The Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland. One Euro is equal to 40.3399 BEF, 1.95583 DEM, 340.750 GRD, 166.386 ESP, 6.55957 FRF, .787654 IEP, 1936.27 ITL, 40.3399 LUF, 2.20371 …showed first 75 words of 1195 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1195 total…your money changed when traveling to a foreign country is eliminated and everybody appreciates that. Also people will know which countries are expensive and which are not because it’s easy to compare if there is a monetary union. The unification of the eleven states is just the beginning; a lot more states are going to join and once they are all joined the American dollar won’t be the strongest currency in the world.