Press Release: EURO-83: Commission report on euro changeover preparations shows glass is only half full and calls for fast implementation of 40 best practices

In a report released on 9 October 2001 and addressed to the Ghent European Council the Commission focuses on what can be done over the following 83 days to enusre a smooth changeover to the euro. 40 best practices identified across the euro area are proposed to governments, banks and retailers. The report shows that overall significant progress has been made since the Commission presented its last report (April 2001). But the situation is still rather uneven: while national administrations have nearly completed their preparations, local authorities and SMEs do not appear to be as far advanced. General public awareness has improved considerably but remains insufficient overall.