Internationalized euro increasingly prominent

As a currency that initially covered 14 member states of the European Union, the euro was officially launched on Jan 1, 1999, initially as an electronic currency. Euro bank notes and coins came into physical circulation on Jan 1, 2002, and following a two-month transition period, the euro officially replaced the currencies of the countries in the eurozone.

Today, the eurozone comprises 19 EU member states, with a population of more than 340 million, and it has become one of the most important symbols of European integration.

Historical opportunities, strong political will