Slovenia becomes 13th member of euro zone

Slovenia adopted the euro on Monday, making itself the 13th member of the euro zone.

The tolar, the currency of Slovenia, will be replaced by the euro at the rate of 239.64 tolars to one euro.

Slovenia joined the European Union in 2004 along with nine other countries. It is the first among those countries to adopt the euro.

With its population of 2 million, Slovenia's entry also means that the euro is shared by 316.6 million people in 13 EU countries.

According to a recent Eurobarometer survey, more than 90 percent of the Slovenian population have seen and 83 percent or more used euro banknotes and coins well before the changeover.

Before Slovenia's accession, the euro zone groups Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.

Source: Xinhua