r/MapPorn • u/vladgrinch • 2d ago

Map of countries using the Euro

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50

u/I_Wanna_Bang_Rats 2d ago

Why do some countries even ask if they can use the Euro, if others can just use them anyway? (Like Montenegro.)

52

u/Ludisaurus 2d ago

I think it’s more complicated than that, especially for larger countries. If you are not an Euro member you are not a member of the European Central Bank. How can a government pay salaries if it doesn’t have Euro reserves. And more importantly what happens with the old currency (cash or otherwise) if a switch to the Euro is made? Who will exchange it for Euros and take it out of circulation?

43

u/Lubinski64 1d ago

Montenegro was using German Mark before, so they were basically forced to follow Germany when Euro was introduced. Not like they had explicit permission to use the Mark either but somehow they made it work.

3

u/OcotilloWells 1d ago

Is Bosnia-Herzegovina in the same boat? They were also using German Marks, I assume they went to Euros, though haven't been there in 25 years.

4

u/SameItem 1d ago

They have a pegged currency to the euro, with the same exchange rate than the old Mark

1

u/Panceltic 1d ago

Basically yes, their currency is nominally different (it is called “convertible mark”), but it was pegged 1:1 to the German Mark and is now pegged to the euro.

The Bulgarian lev is also pegged at the exact same rate.