75 per cent of public unaware of looming dual circulation deadlines

Date: 08/11/01

The European Commission estimates that 75% of the European public do not realise that they will still be able to spend their drachmas, pesetas and francs for several weeks following the euro's arrival on 1 January.

In fact, the banks are rather keen that the public don't turn up en masse on the first day of business in the New Year to exchange all their 'old money'.

The deadlines for 'dual circulation' are: Austria: 28 February, Belgium: 28 February, midnight, Finland: 28 February, France: 17 February, midnight, Germany: at least 28 February, Greece: 28 February, Ireland: 9 February, midnight, Italy: 28 February, Luxembourg: 28 February, Netherlands: 28 January, Portugal: 28 February, Spain: 28 February, In Germany, deutschmarks are no longer legal tender from 31 December, but can still be spent until 28 February.

Article forms part of a special report on the euro.