This best of illustrates the milestones in the actual passage to the euro: from the launching of the final countdown by Belgium the 30/12/2001 to the first commercial uses of euro notes and coins in everyday life 01/01/2002, and the first assessments 02 and 03/01/2002.

Brussels

VERHOFSTADT, Guy (Renew, BE)

Eurozone (T)

Frankfurt

Luxembourg

Madrid

Athens

Maastricht

PRODI, Romano (IT)

AZNAR, Jose Maria (ES)

NIINISTÖ, Sauli (FI)

SCHÜSSEL, Wolfgang (AT)

McCREEVY, Charlie (IE)

ALBERT II (BE, King)

national currency

European currency

Dublin

FISCHLER, Franz (AT)

Helsinki

SOLBES MIRA, Pedro (ES)

DUISENBERG, Wim (NL)

SIMITIS, Costas (EL)

Vienna

RATO y FIGAREDO, Rodrigo (ES)

single currency (T)

Best of: Changeover to the euro, 30/12/01- 03/01/02