Spelling of 'euro' creates unexpected headache
As if the arguments over the Stability and Growth Pact and EU corporate tax harmonisation were not enough, a new and unexpected problem was presented to finance ministers this weekend by European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet.
Mr Trichet informed ministers that the word 'euro' was being spelled differently across Europe. In Slovenia, for example, it is called 'evro'. Latvians - if and when they join the common currency - will pay with 'eiro' and in Hungary, the word has an accent.
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This contravenes a regulation drawn up by EU leaders in 1997 that the word must be spelled 'euro' in all official languages.
Greece, however, is exempt because it has a different alphabet.
Dutch Finance Minister Gerrit Zalm said, "we were surprised to find that this problem existed, but we solved it", joking, "you see how decisive finance ministers can sometimes be".
However, he was flummoxed by a question asking what form the plural should take. Some use 'euro', others 'euros'.
The problem is unlikely to arise in the new member states for a few years. Although all ten new entrants to the EU club are treaty-bound to join the single currency, none is likely to do so before 2007.
Who is the real Mr Euro?
And the friction caused by the word 'euro' didn't stop there.
There were arguments over who should properly be dubbed "Mr Euro", after the appointment of Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker as the President of the group of finance ministers from the 12 euro countries.
Mr Juncker has been widely dubbed "Mr Euro" in the press but, as the overseer of euro zone monetary policy, Mr Trichet has jealously demanded the title back.
"As far as the currency is concerned, I am evidently 'Mr Euro'", said the Frenchman, according to AFP.