The European Union (EU) mandates that every country joining the block should switch over to its currency, the euro, in order to facilitate cross-border trade. However, six separate EU member states, namely Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Romania, Hungary, and Czechia, have yet to adopt the euro as their official currency. In this article, we’ll explore the reasons behind these countries’ refusal to adopt the euro and what they’re doing instead.
Denmark’s Simple Agreement with the EU
Denmark joined the EU very early on and had a specific agreement with the EU saying they would never have to use the euro. To this day, Denmark continues to use the Danish crown and has no plans of switching to the euro.
Referendum in Sweden
Sweden, on the other hand, conducted a referendum where the majority of its people stated that they don’t want to join the euro. As a result, the government of Sweden is in a legal bind, trying to meet its obligations to join the euro while also trying to satisfy its citizens who don’t want to switch to the euro.
Unstable Currency
The European exchange rate mechanism mandates that countries wanting to join the euro should have a stabilized currency that can be shifted over. This means the country must have a certain amount of government deficits, and its currency must not fluctuate too much. However, by deliberately ignoring these requirements, the currency of Sweden, Poland, and the other countries don’t meet the EU’s requirements to switch to the euro.
Scandals Surrounding the Euro
The euro was a popular currency when it was first introduced. The idea of having one currency to cross all of Europe was exciting. However, as time passed and the EU currency went on, more and more scandals have struck it, and countries are deciding to wait and see how things play out before they adopt the euro as their official currency.
Playing a Fun Game of Chicken
Sweden, Poland, and the other countries that haven’t adopted the euro yet are playing a fun game of chicken with the EU. They’re slowing down the process and coming up with reasons why they can’t switch to the euro. They’re effectively saying that they really want to adopt the euro, but their currency just doesn’t meet the requirements.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Denmark, Sweden, and the other EU member states that have yet to adopt the euro are playing a game of chicken with the EU. While some countries, like Denmark, have a simple agreement with the EU saying they don’t have to switch to the euro, others, like Sweden, are in a legal bind trying to meet their obligations while also satisfying their citizens who don’t want to switch to the euro. Ultimately, these countries are waiting and seeing how things play out before they adopt the euro as their official currency.
Last time I was in Denmark I remember seeing plenty of businesses accepting the euro. I had krone anyway since I exchanged from pounds but it was interesting to see two different currencies accepted in the same place.
I’m very much into EU and I understand the value of common currency, but at the same time It’s kinda bad deal for a smaller country because you’re unable to do currency value control. Having a same valued currency between export focused countries like Germany and Finland is kinda shitty deal for Finns.
I like your enthusiasm and your chair must have good springs (ever seen Zebedee in the Magic Roundabout?). Fun fact: neither the Vatican, Kosovo, Montenegro, Andorra, Monaco or San Marino belong to the EU, but none of these six use the US dollar… guess what? Yes, they all use the Euro!
Experience has taught that the currency was a really bad idea. Different countries need different rates of inflation to avoid economic death spiraling. And currently the central bank issuing Euro does not fulfill other duties required from a central bank, like maintaining liquidity in a country. So either they would need their own central bank to issue Euros, and that’s against the rules, or just stay out of it.