Country overview

Polymer overview

General information

The introduction of hybrid bank notes (the number of denominations is unknown) is possible when the 2nd series of Euro bank notes will be introduced. The 1st series of Euro bank notes (and coins) is in circulation since 01.01.02.

The European Union (EU) comprises 27 countries (an asterisk denotes a country that uses the Euro currency): Austria*, Belgium*, Bulgaria, Cyprus* (excluding Northern Cyprus), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland*, France* (excluding New Caledonia, French Polynesia, and Wallis and Futuna), Germany*, Greece*, Hungary, Ireland*, Italy* (excluding Campione d'Italia), Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg*, Malta*, the Netherlands* (excluding Aruba and Netherlands Antilles), Poland, Portugal*, Romania, Slovakia*, Slovenia*, Spain*, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

The national banks of all 27 EU countries are members of the European Central Bank (ECB). The European System of Central Banks (ESCB) comprises the ECB and the national central banks of all EU member states, whether they have adopted the Euro or not. The Eurosystem comprises the ECB and national central banks of those countries that have adopted the Euro. The Eurosystem and the ESCB will co-exist as long as there are EU member states outside the Euro area. The Euro area (sometimes called the Eurozone) consists of the EU countries that have adopted the Euro.

These countries and territories have a formal agreement with the EU to use the Euro: Mayotte (to France), Monaco, Saint Pierre et Miquelon (to France), San Marino, and Vatican City. Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City can also issue their own respective Euro coins (valid throughout the Euro area). These countries and territories use the Euro without a formal agreement with the EU: Akrotiri and Dhekelia (to UK), Andorra, Kosovo, Montenegro, Saint Barthélemy (to France), and Saint Martin (to France).

The following serial number prefix letters are used on current Euro bank notes to denote the issuing country:

The European Central Bank