Eurozone changeover key dates

January 1 1999 The euro became the currency for 11 member states

January 1 1999 to December 31 2001 Transition period: changeover to the euro by the whole economy

June 19 2000 Council Decision (2000/427)EC) on the adoption by Greece of the single currency

January 1 2001 Greece adopts the single currency (Council Decision of 19 June 2000)

August 30, 2001 European Central Bank releases final details of euro banknote

September 1 2001 Euro banknotes and coins will be made available to banks (frontloading), and some retailers

December 2001 Coins should be available in most countries through starter kits

December 31, 2001 German national currency ends as legal tender but under an agreement, deutsche marks can still be used until at least February 28, 2002.

January 1 2002 Euro notes and coins will enter circulation in the 12 participating states of the EU. All non-cash transactions will hereafter take place in euros. Dual circulation period begins, in which consumers can still use national currencies but will be given change only in euros.

January 15, 2002 It is anticipated that the bulk of cash transactions will now be taking place in euros.

January 28, 2002 Dutch national currency ends as legal tender.

February 9, 2002 Irish national currency ends as legal tender..

February 17, 2002 French national currency ends as legal tender.

February 28, 2002 Belgian, Greek, Spanish, Italian, Luxembourg, Austrian, Portuguese and Finnish national currencies end as legal tender. German commercial banks will exchange national banknotes and coins for euros until at least this date. Commercial banks in Austria, Finland, Greece and Ireland to decide individual deadlines for currency exchanges. Italy has not made a decision on commercial bank currency exchanges.

June 30, 2002 Last date commercial banks in France, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain will exchange national currencies for euros.

December 31, 2002 Last date commercial banks in Belgium and the Netherlands will exchange national currencies for euros.Last date Portugal's central bank will exchange national coins for euros.

2003 and beyond The 12 eurozone central banks have set various deadlines for exchanging old national currencies:

• Central banks in Germany, Ireland, Spain and Austria , have said they will exchange old notes and coins indefinitely.
• Central banks in Belgium and Luxembourg , say they will exchange old notes indefinitely but have set a deadline of the end of 2004 for coins.
• Italy and Finland have each set a deadline of 10 years for notes and coins.
• Greece and France have each set a deadline of 10 years for notes; Greece will exchange coins for two years, France for three.
• The Netherlands has set deadlines of January 1, 2007 for coins and January 1, 2032 for notes.
• Portugal will exchange notes for 20 years (the deadline for coins is December 31, 2002).

National changeover timetables