Euro's First Birthday

▪ 2000

 On Jan. 1, 1999, 11 European nations embarked on the European Union's (EU's) most ambitious project ever. In a move that would lead in 2002 to the abolition of their national currencies, they gave birth to a common unit of exchange called the euro (represented with the symbol €). Given the enormous financial and technical obstacles that confronted them during preparations, the birthday passed off remarkably smoothly. Even before the market began trading euros, politicians celebrated with champagne in Brussels.

      One year later the single currency, so far just a noncash unit of exchange, was thriving. It was not, however, an easy 12 months. There were widely predicted arguments about whether politicians or bankers should be in charge of running monetary policy in the so-called euro zone. There were also worries early on about a slide in the currency's value against the dollar and sterling.

      The euro reached its highest point against the dollar just four days after its launch—€1.1899. After that, its value dropped steadily until the summer as the markets reacted adversely to an all-too-public battle in which politicians, led by German Finance Minister Oskar Lafontaine, put pressure on the European Central Bank (ECB), based in Frankfurt, Ger., to cut interest rates. The interventions called into question the bank's promised independence and wobbled the foreign exchange markets. When the ECB ignored the calls, politicians turned their guns on the ECB itself, criticizing its “faceless bankers” for their lack of transparency and political accountability. Although dangerous, the political crisis largely disappeared after Lafontaine resigned suddenly in March.

      By July the currency had reached its lowest rate against the dollar—€1.011. While EU leaders agonized over how to respond to the fall, its low value acted as a lifeline to European exporters. In fact, worries about the euro's value were overblown. Because of the dollar's weakness in the second half of 1998, the euro had begun its life at an excessively high level, and a drop had always been in the cards. Its progress also reflected economic reality—while the U.S. economy bounced along, growth in most euro zone economies was faltering. Moreover, even while its value was low, the new currency was getting a good reception on the markets. By the end of the year, the euro had overtaken the dollar as the preferred international issuance currency. It was regaining strength, and the political spats that characterized the beginning of its life had tailed off.

      It still remained to decide when the four EU countries that did not join at the start—Denmark, Greece, Sweden, and the U.K.—would enter the euro zone. All seemed on track to meet the entrance criteria and could opt in within five years. A second question was how to ensure a smooth introduction of euro notes and coins scheduled to replace national currencies in 2002. The switch would be a gigantic task, but it was one that would bring home to the public the reality of the euro.

Emma Tucker

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