Survey shows E-day message hitting home

Date: 15/11/01

By Laurence Frost

THE majority of people living in the eurozone now know the date of the single currency launch, according to the Commission's latest 'Eurobarometer' survey.

Only 6 are unaware that the euro goes into circulation on 1 January - compared to 46 in September last year.

The report published this week shows other encouraging signs that the message is now getting through to most citizens, barely six weeks before 'E-day'.

A majority of 58 now consider themselves well-informed about the currency - up 3 since September.

However, there are signs that some people could lose out in the confusion over the dual circulation periods during which payments are accepted in both euros and national currencies. Less than one in three people knows when national notes and coins will no longer be accepted in their countries, with 43 believing the deadline for cashing in their old money boxes is later than it actually is.

It is also getting harder for fraudsters to take advantage of people's unfamiliarity with the new money. Seven out of ten citizens now know the value of the euro in their local currency - up from around six out of ten in September. An index measuring people's fears of price-cheating has dropped from 67 to 54 points over the same period.

More than 6,500 people were interviewed for the tenth Eurobarometer survey in all 12 eurozone countries during the second half of October.

• In last week's article on euro exchange rates, we stated that €100 is equal to 1,370 Belgian francs. The correct figure is 4,034 BEF. The Netherlands flag was also incorrectly reproduced, due to a production error.

Results of the latest Eurobarometer survey.