THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY: Confused at the single currency's crisis? Who wouldn't be? Don't worry. Our guide empowers you to bluff through any dinner party
Q&A: Your guide to Europe's financial situation:
What was the original idea behind the euro and its zone?
The idea dates back to 1969, when a European summit at The Hague made its creation an official ambition. However, it took 20 years for the plans to be properly prepared, when European Commission president Jacques Delors came up with a three-stage plan that, after a further delay, led to the then 12-strong eurozone in 1999. European politicians originally wanted a strong political and economic bloc to ensure that great wars were avoided. There was belief that the euro would be strong enough to avoid devaluation and compete with the mighty US dollar. >>> Questions answered by Simon Evans, Julian Knight, Mark Leftly and Margareta Pagano | Sunday, May 23, 2010
