Dec 28th, 2008 - The euro celebrates its 10th anniversary on Jan. 1.

Here are key dates:

-- 1970: The Werner Report, named for Luxembourg's joint prime minister and finance minister at the time, outlines a plan for a European monetary union.

-- 1978: The European Monetary System -- with an exchange rate mechanism and European Currency Unit -- is launched.

-- 1992: Maastricht Treaty lays out timetable and criteria for joining the euro. EU members Denmark and Britain given permission to opt out.

-- 1994: The European Monetary Institute, forerunner of the European Central Bank, launched.

-- 1997: The Stability and Growth Pact agreed on to ensure countries using the euro will support it with budgetary discipline.

-- June 1, 1998: The ECB begins operations.

-- Dec. 31, 1998: Exchange rates between the euro and the currencies of first 11 countries are fixed.

-- Jan. 1, 1999: The euro is officially launched on financial markets; national notes and coins continue to circulate.

-- Jan. 1, 2001: Greece joins the euro zone.

-- Jan. 1, 2002: Euro bank notes and coins are rolled out.

-- September 2003: Swedes vote against adopting the euro.

-- Jan. 1, 2007: Slovenia becomes the 13 country to join.

-- Jan. 1, 2008: Cyprus and Malta join.

-- Jan. 1, 2009: Slovakia joins.