European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Joaquin Almunia has said that with the adoption of the euro on January 1st, 2008, Cyprus has become even more integrated in the heart of the European Union, less than four years after it joined the EU.
”This is thanks to the stability-orientated economic policies pursued by Cyprus, which I hope will continue after it adopts the euro,” Almunia said.
He encouraged the Cypriot people ”to embrace our shared currency with confidence because they are entering a monetary union that has proven its worth in terms of price stability and low interest rates.”
The euro has replaced the Cyprus pound at a rate of CYP 0.585274 for one euro (or € 1.71 per pound), following a decision taken by the Ecofin Council in July on Commission proposals.
During the dual circulation period running until 31 January 2008, the Cyprus pound can still be used in daily cash payments in parallel with the euro. It is however expected that already in a couple of days the cash changeover will be completed and virtually all cash transactions will be carried out in euro.
Citizens in Cyprus are able to withdraw euro cash from ATMs and to use it for daily payments.
Cypriot citizens warmly welcomed their new currency, and a celebration was organised at the Ministry of Finance.
President Barroso and Commissioner Almunia will be in the Cypriot capital Nicosia on 18 January for a ceremony to celebrate the adoption of the euro.
The European Commission said will continue to monitor the changeover operation very closely.
Cyprus adopted the single currency along with Malta and the euro area now comprises 15 out of the 27 EU countries and includes a population of 318 million out of the EU’s total of 493 million.
The euro area exists since 1 January 1999, when 11 of the then 15 EU Member States adopted the single currency. Greece followed in 2001. The euro banknotes and coins were introduced on 1 January 2002, after a transitional period of three years (one year in the case of Greece) during which the euro was the currency of the Member States concerned and could be used in scriptural form, while national cash was still used in cash payments. As the first of the 10 Member States which acceded to the EU on 1 May 2004, Slovenia adopted the euro on 1 January 2007.
