Euro Heralds New Era 11 nations merged currencies to create the euro. Europe’s leaders say that the unified currancy will promote bussiness, underpin unity and strengthen their role in world affairs. Officially at midnight on New Year’s Eve the euro became the common currency of Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Portugal, Finland, Ireland and Luxembourg. This event is hailed as a historic turning point in Europes history. By uniting Europe has created a powerful new economic force. Britain, Denmark and Greece are also hoping to join in the next decade. “If the postwar era ended nine years ago with the fal