Two decades have passed since the euro circulated in Catalonia. On January 1, 2002, automated teller machines started dispensing the single currency’s banknotes, a move that promised economic growth in southern nations and parity with northern economies. According to Xavier Ferrer, head of the Commission of International Economy and European Union of the College of Economists of Catalonia, the euro represented a “significant shift” that has “proven advantageous” compared to retaining the peseta. He stated, “It empowers us to project a robust economic zone globally.” Pedro Aznar, an economics professor at ESADE, concurs, noting, “The eurozone has demonstrably fostered price stability in Catalonia.”
The euro’s 20th anniversary coincides with record-high inflation; however, Aznar highlights that the single currency has facilitated remarkably low inflation rates in recent years. “Maintaining competitiveness for businesses hinges on controlling inflation,” the professor emphasizes, asserting that alternative approaches would not have yielded similarly low inflation. Ferrer points to a loss of monetary policy control for states as the euro’s chief drawback. Nonetheless, he advocates for eurozone membership. “Our position would be considerably worse outside the euro,” declared the Commission on International Economics and European Union head, asserting that “data confirms” the common currency’s benefits. Ferrer explains, “Had the Spanish State, despite EU membership, not adopted the euro, currency devaluation during crises would have widened the economic gap with other nations.” He further contends that the single currency has not inflated prices as initially anticipated.
Both economists acknowledge that transferring monetary policy management to the European Central Bank has resulted in some limitations on national fiscal policies and necessitates accepting austerity measures during economic downturns. The head of the Commission on International Economics and European Union remarks, “It has enabled sustained participation, albeit with occasional hardship, within the European economic system—our essential location.” Ferrer attributes the austerity response to the crisis to deficiencies in handling recessions and debt crises. He explains that the EU lacks sufficient budgetary and fiscal oversight, resulting in a “stable” economic and monetary policy. Ferrer advocates for a stable euro, a sound economic and monetary union, and progress toward political unification, emphasizing that no EU state, not even Germany, can maintain international influence independently.
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Transformations within the single currency
Despite initial anxieties about escalating costs following the euro transition—a claim Ferrer refutes—the single currency enjoys robust public backing. A European Commission poll reveals 69% of citizens in the nation view the euro favorably, just a fraction below the EU average. This positive sentiment escalates to 82% among those believing the euro has benefited the European Union. However, two decades on, the single currency remains a work in progress. This is evident in ongoing discussions about the viability of one and two cent coins, and the continued existence of 500 euro banknotes—a denomination some believe has facilitated tax evasion. The European Union has been contemplating the fate of one- and two-cent pieces for over a decade, primarily due to their disproportionately high production costs. Potential solutions under consideration in Brussels include ceasing production while retaining existing coins, or completely removing them from circulation.
The limited practical value of these low-denomination coins and the 500-euro notes, when compared to higher denominations, has resulted in a decline in their usage. The 500 euro banknote was phased out in 2019, with further withdrawals occurring annually. The euro’s evolution also encompasses aesthetics. The current design, featuring imagery of windows and bridges symbolizing European openness and collaboration, is slated for a redesign in 2024. An advisory panel to the European Central Bank is currently reviewing options and will subsequently seek public input. Ultimately, the final decision rests with the central bank’s leadership. Data from the Bank of Spain indicates that 3.2% of the peseta banknotes and coins in circulation in December 2001 remain unconverted to euros. This amounts to approximately €1,575 million—€793 million in banknotes and €782 million in coins.
The euro’s ongoing hurdles
The common currency of nineteen out of twenty-seven European Union nations, the euro, marked its twentieth birthday. Its tenth anniversary was observed amidst a financial downturn, and these two decades have been persistently shadowed by economic instability. A significant example is the debt crisis a decade past, which severely threatened the eurozone initiative. According to Aznar, the single currency faces two primary hurdles. The foremost is its role within a geographic area experiencing a decline in global influence, particularly compared to the economic powerhouses of the United States and China. He notes, “Our model—a unique system of social welfare, alongside an economic, social, and political environment upholding democracy, free speech, and minority rights—deserves global recognition.” He further emphasizes that the European Union must be viewed favorably by its population as an organization that extends beyond mere financial concerns. “It’s crucial for the populace to sense the European Union’s concern for their well-being,” he stated. Both Aznar and Ferrer concur that the recovery fund represents a positive stride for the European Union’s position as “a project geared toward the future.”