Changes

==Creation==

==Creation==

In January 1999 the [[exchange rate]]s of countries that had passed the criteria (and were not exercising an opt-out) were fixed to the euro.  The [[European Central Bank]] ([[ECB]]) came into being. Euro coins and notes were introduced to the general public on the 1st of January 2002 as [[legal tender]], alongside national [[currencies]]. In March 1998, when the calculations in countries that had met the convergence criteria were finalized, eleven countries were admitted to join the [[European Monetary Union]]: [[Austria]], [[Belgium]], [[Finland]], [[France]], [[Germany]], [[Ireland]], [[Italy]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Netherlands]], [[Portugal]] and [[Spain]]. In June 2000 [[Greece]] was admitted. [[Slovenia]] joined in 2007, and [[Malta]] and [[Cyprus]] joined in 2008. Since 2011 the euro is the currency of [[Estonia]]. On January 1, 2014 the euro was introduced in [[Latvia]]. In 2015 [[Lithuania]] joined the Eurozone.

In January 1999 the [[exchange rate]]s of countries that had passed the criteria (and were not exercising an opt-out) were fixed to the euro.  The [[European Central Bank]] ([[ECB]]) came into being. Euro coins and notes were introduced to the general public on the 1st of January 2002 as [[legal tender]], alongside national [[currencies]]. In March 1998, when the calculations in countries that had met the convergence criteria were finalized, eleven countries were admitted to join the [[European Monetary Union]]: [[Austria]], [[Belgium]], [[Finland]], [[France]], [[Germany]], [[Ireland]], [[Italy]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Netherlands]], [[Portugal]] and [[Spain]]. In June 2000 [[Greece]] was admitted. [[Slovenia]] joined in 2007, and [[Malta]] and [[Cyprus]] joined in 2008. Since 2011 the euro is the currency of [[Estonia]]. On January 1, 2014, the euro was introduced in [[Latvia]]. In 2015 [[Lithuania]] joined the Eurozone.

==Criteria for adoption==

==Criteria for adoption==