Emu

EMU is an acronym with several meanings. The most prominent is the European Monetary Union, a framework for economic integration that coordinates monetary policy and, in many member states, adopts a common currency, the euro. The term also refers to the emu, a large Australian flightless bird, and to other specialized uses in technology and science.

In economics, the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) unifies monetary policy across participating EU member states through the European Central Bank (ECB) and the European System of Central Banks (ESCB). The euro was introduced as a non-cash unit in 1999 and as physical currency in 2002; euro-area members share a single monetary policy focused on price stability. The EMU comprises three stages, culminating in a common monetary policy, fixed exchange rates among member states, and macroeconomic convergence. Convergence criteria from the Maastricht Treaty include price stability, sustainable public finances, exchange-rate stability, and long-term interest rate alignment. Compliance influences eligibility for euro adoption and ongoing fiscal arrangements such as the Stability and Growth Pact.

The emu is also a native Australian bird, Dromaius novaehollandiae, one of the largest living birds and adapted to open habitats. It is flightless, fast on the ground, and feeds on a varied diet of plants and insects.

In computing and hobbyist contexts, EMU often stands for emulator or emulation, referring to software or hardware that reproduces the function of one system on another.