| 1990 |
1 July |
Free movement of capital. |
| 1992 |
7 February |
Signing of the Maastricht Treaty. It sets out the deadline for achieving the European single currency in 1999. |
| 1994 |
1 January |
Establishment of the European Monetary Institute. |
| 1995 |
15 and 16 December |
European Council meeting in Madrid, which adopted “euro” as the single currency denomination and established that on 1 January 2002 euro banknotes and coins would start to circulate. |
| 1996 |
13 December |
Presentation of the final designs of the euro banknotes. |
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| 1997 |
16 and 17 June |
European Council meeting in Amsterdam. Approval of the common side of euro coins. |
| 1998 |
1 May |
European Council meeting in Brussels. Agreement on the 11 countries that would adopt the euro in 1999. |
| 1 June |
Establishment of the European Central Bank. |
| November |
An advertisement on the euro coins is aired for the first time. |
| 31 December |
Irrevocable fixing of exchange rates. |
| 1999 |
1 January |
Eleven countries adopt the euro as their currency. |
| June |
Banknote production starts in 14 printing works. |
| 2000 |
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Launch of the Euro 2002 Information Campaign. |
| 2001 |
1 January |
Greece adopts the single currency. |
| 30 August |
Presentation of the final design of euro banknotes. |
| 1 September |
Start of the frontloading of euro coins to credit institutions and local offices of the tax authorities. |
| 1 October |
Start of the frontloading of euro banknotes to credit institutions and local offices of the tax authorities. |
1 December |
Start of the frontloading of euro banknotes and coins to retailers (so that they could give change immediately as soon as 1 January 2002). |
| 17 December |
Start of the sale of starter kits to the public comprising coins totalling €10 (so that they could give change and make low-value payments immediately as soon as 1 January 2002). |
2002
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1 January |
Entry into circulation of the euro in 12 European Union countries. |
| 28 February |
Escudo ceased to be legal tender. |
| 31 December |
Banco de Portugal ceased to exchange escudo coins for euros. |
| 2007 |
1 January |
Slovenia adopts the single currency. |
| 2008 |
1 January |
Cyprus and Malta adopt the single currency. |
| 2009 |
1 January |
Slovakia adopts the single currency. |
| 2011 |
1 January |
Estonia adopts the single currency. |