Euró

Euro (symbol €; ISO code EUR) is the official currency of the euro area, used by 20 of the 27 European Union member states as of 2024. It functions as a unit of account, a means of payment, and a store of value in everyday transactions and international markets. It is one of the most traded currencies and a significant global reserve asset.

Origins trace to the Maastricht Treaty of 1992, which established a framework for a single currency and a common monetary policy. The euro began as book money in 1999 and entered physical circulation in 2002. Monetary policy is conducted by the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Eurosystem, comprising the ECB and the euro-area national central banks. The ECB is headquartered in Frankfurt and is charged with maintaining price stability.

Euro coins have a common reverse design for denominations, while each member state issues its own obverse side. Banknotes are issued in eight denominations, with the current common design in the Europa series and enhanced security features; the €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, and €200 notes are in active circulation, while the €500 note has largely fallen out of use and is not newly issued.

As of 2024, 20 EU countries use the euro; others retain their national currencies, including the Czech koruna, Danish krone, Hungarian forint, Polish zloty, Romanian leu, Bulgarian lev, and Swedish krona. The euro supports the EU internal market and is a major global reserve and transaction currency; payment systems like TARGET2 handle large-value euro transfers.

The euro facilitates cross-border trade and travel and helps stabilize prices across euro-area economies. It also poses challenges, such as loss of independent monetary policy for non-euro states and the need for fiscal coordination and structural reforms. Debates continue about its political and economic implications within the EU.