The euro is now the official currency in 24 states and territories.

Twelve eurozone countries
There are 12 European Union countries which have adopted the euro Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain. Three other EU members are not in the euro - Denmark, Sweden, and the UK - see below for their prospects of joining.

Four small European states
Three European 'micro-states' which used the French franc or the Italian lira now use the euro - Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City. The euro will also be the currency used in Andorra replacing the French franc and the Spanish peseta. In the other European micro-state, Liechtenstein, the Swiss franc remains the currency.

Six French overseas departments and territories
French Guyana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and R�union are all overseas departments of France and part of the European Union so their adoption of the euro was automatic. St Pierre-et-Miquelon and Mayotte are both French overseas territories and also adopted the euro. The euro is now automatically the currency in Spanish-owned islands such as the Balearics (Ibiza, Majorca, Minorca) and the Canaries (Fuerteventura, Gomera, Gran Canaria, Hierro, Lanzarote, La Palma, Tenerife).

Two Balkan countries
Kosovo and Montenegro have both adopted the euro as their currency from 1 January. In other Balkan countries the deutschmark was widely used and accepted as an unofficial and blackmarket currency. It has now been unofficially replaced by the euro and in some cases, such as Bosnia and Croatia, the US dollar. But visitors should stick to the official currencies unless they plan to buy property there.

Referendums
Denmark voted on 28 September 2000 to stay out of the euro. Turnout was more than 90 per cent and the vote was 53:47 to keep the krone. However, the new Danish Government indicated in early January 2002 that there would be another referendum in 2003 on a range of European Union issues including the single currency. A new opinion poll, taken after the introduction of the euro notes and coins, showed 57% in favour of joining.

Sweden has indicated that it will hold a euro referendum in 2003. Prime Minister Goran Pearsson has said the vote could be held as early as March or April next year and if the people vote 'yes' the notes and coins could be in use by 2006. Public opinion has changed markedly in Sweden recently and one recent poll showed a wafer thin majority in favour of joining.

UK - The Government will assess its five economic tests to see if the country should join the euro by June 2003 at the latest. If it decides that the tests are passed, a timetable produced by the Treasury indicates that a referendum could be held within four months and, if the vote is in favour, the notes and coins could be in use by 2006. However, opinion polls in the UK consistently show a clear majority against joining the euro.