1eurobanknote

The other side of the Euro is less glittering, the experience with euro in countries where it was introduced, is not always positive. The new currency caused price rising:
with unjustified rounding up to 0,10€;
with psychological price forming barriers – something that once had cost 2,99 DEM (or aprox. 1,5 €), became 1,99€ (almost 25% more expensive), and after a certain period of time a number of articles had the same nominal price as before (or almost 100% more !);
with hidden price increases, explained as seasonal changes or taking advantage of the forgetfulness of customers – mostly used for clothing, shoes, hotels, taxi transports etc. The marketing promotional methods like 3 x 2 and similar, are very well studied ways of bluring the mind of the customers.

Official statistics did not take into consideration most of these price increases calculating the inflation rate, trying to confirm that the change of currency did not cause general price inreases. But the consumers\' opinion is often different. Dissattisfaction with the euro is present in France, where francs are still being used while calculating; in Italy where there was a domestic market pause because of the new currency; in Germany where euro is ironically called „Teuro“ (teuer in German means expensive).

Even in Slovenia the intruduction of euro caused price increases, which took place before the period of the dual price indication, in March 2006. It was explained as a „normal“ price rise. Shortly after that the rounding up to 0,10€ began, and now the prices are rising towards new psychologic barriers (2,99, 19,99€ a/o the like). The legislation that had been adopted was supposed to avoid such behaviour but the sanctions were implemented only in the actions taken clearly against the spirit of the introduction of the Euro and not in the small lucrative speculations, that is in the majority of the cases.

Can we do anything against it? The answer is: yes. We have to change our own perception of the value of the money. The value of 500 € and 200 € banknotes is way too high, we don\'t see them and use them so often. We also have problems in changing them, so we are not pleased to receive them in payment, prefering the bills of lower value. It is also a problem changing a 100 € note, what is really serious. We have to deal a lot with coins, that\'s why we have to have special wallets for the change and special plastic coin holders. Because of price rounding, the small copper coins of 1c, 2c and 5c will soon become „useless“. Considering the coins as small change, it will not be reduced only to the coins of 10c, 20c and 50c but to the coins of 1€ and 2€, as well. Paying by coins will be considered as payment by „change“, everybody will try to get rid of them, feeling that the two most valuable coins 1€ and 2€ are „only“ change. That is the exact excuse for the unjustified price increases. Issuing both bancnotes of 1€ and 2€ would give back the honour and dignity to the basic units of our money.

Many of the initiatives, which have been launched until now, have not been successful. The initiators were ministries and other organisations of EU, they but were not supported by a larger number of citizens. That\'s why, I think this initiative, started as a large civil petition, could at last renew the interest in a discussion for the issue, especially if sustained by citizens of different countries. We believe the large partecipation to the petition could convince the Council of Governors of the European Central Bank.

All of you who agree with the initiativeare invited to join the petition by signing in the tag „Petition“. You can send an opinion about the initiative or contact us through the tag „Contacts“, inform us about some interesting links, giving your contribution to the success of the initiative. We need help in translations of the home page to all the official languages of EU, to be able to reach as much EU citizens as possible.