A currency union consisting of most of the members of the European Union, who in January 1999 aligned their monetary policies under a European Central Bank and adopted a common currency, the euro
(Emu), as provided for under the Maastricht Treaty, gave the EU a single currency - the euro The objective is national economic convergence with a view to national political convergence Denmark, Greece, Sweden and the UK all opted out of joining Emu at its commencement on 1 1 99, but Greece subsequently joined on 1 1 2001 The 3 other countries will hold a referendum The UK's economic cycle has gradually moved into phase with that of most euroland (eurozone, euroarea) countries, but the UK is unlikely to join Emu before 2003 at the earliest The UK government's 5 proposed tests for joining are