He ended up in his pockets in 2002. It has been 20 years since the euro began to circulate.

The introduction of the euro as a currency on world financial markets took place on January 1, 1999, but only in 2002 did it actually reach the pockets of citizens as a physical currency.

The euro was the first major step towards European political integration, although it has behaved unevenly throughout its history.

These are the main dates of its appearance and development:

– 01.01.2002: Euro starts physical circulation in 12 EU countries: Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, Austria, Ireland, Finland and Greece.

– 01.07.2002: Banknotes and coins of the former independent systems of the eurozone countries are withdrawn from the European market.

– 01.01.2007: Slovenia accepts the euro as its official currency.

– 01.01.2008: Malta and Cyprus have introduced the euro.

– 04/22/2008: The euro breaks the $ 1.60 barrier in its intraday quotes, although it closes with a $ 1.5931 exchange rate resurrected as a safe haven against the dollar, under pressure from the financial crisis in the United States. …

– 07/15/2008: The euro reaches an all-time high against the dollar at $ 1.5990 by the close of the session, shortly before the debt crisis hit the eurozone.

– 01.01.2009: Slovakia accepts the euro as its currency.

– 05.02.2010: The EU launches the first aid program for the eurozone, providing financial assistance to Greece to avoid bankruptcy. Bailouts followed in Ireland, Portugal, Cyprus and Spanish banks.

– 01.01.2011: Estonia becomes the 17th country in the eurozone.

– 06/30/2011: The euro is officially operational in the non-EU principality of Andorra.

– 01.01.2014: Latvia becomes the 18th country in the eurozone.

– 01.01.2015: Lithuania becomes the 19th country in the eurozone.

– 31/12/2015: The European currency fell 10.2% in 2015 when Greece received its third aid.

– 01/01/2017: The euro marks 15 years, approaching parity with the dollar, which fell in 2016 to its lowest level in 14 years ($ 1.03 per euro).

– 17.09.2018: The European Central Bank (ECB) introduces new Europa 100 and 200 euro banknotes, which no longer include the 500 euro banknote to avoid facilitating illegal activities.

– 31/12/2020: after several years of intense fluctuations, the exchange rate of the euro against the dollar will stabilize in 2020 in the range of 1.1 to 1.2.

– 12/27/2021: The euro is quoted at $ 1.1313 and 2021 is expected to end its worst year in six years with a fall of more than 7% as the US currency appreciates.

– 01.01.2022: The euro, the most tangible achievement of the community project, celebrates its 20th anniversary since its inception.

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