Press Release: EURO-99: Eurobarometer shows steady but slow progress

According to a Eurobarometer survey on the euro carried out in September 2001, only 8% of euro-area citizens do not know the exact date of introduction of euro banknotes and coins. This is a clear improvement compared with 46% in September 2000. The number of citizens considering themselves well informed also continued to improve - 55% in 2001, an increase of 2% compared with the last survey. In view of the fact that national and European Central Bank information campaigns will increasingly focus on the general public in the run-up to euro-day, the results are encouraging. However, sectoral surveys have demonstrated that many hurdles still have to be overcome in the preparations of SMEs and small retailers.