THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY SYSTEM 67
Each national currency of the euro countries was irrevocably fixed to the euro at a cer-
tain conversion rate. The conversion rate between a pair of currencies was obtained by using
the euro conversion rates of the two currencies. On 4 January 1999, the euro started trading
at USD 1.18. Originally, the euro was an electronic currency, but on 1 January 2002, euro
notes and coins were introduced into circulation. The euro was in circulation side-by-side
with the national currencies of the member countries till 2001. From the year 2002, the euro
substituted the national currencies of member nations. As per the treaty, all euro zone coun-
tries have to follow strict fiscal discipline.
As far as structural framewor ...