France, Germany, and Italy use the euro as their currency.
The euro is the common currency of the euro area, a group of European Union member states that share monetary policy through the European Central Bank. Euro banknotes are common across the area, while euro coins have a shared European side and a national side chosen by each participating country.
The euro was introduced for electronic payments and accounting in 1999. Euro coins and banknotes entered everyday circulation on 1 January 2002, replacing national currencies such as the French franc, German mark, and Italian lira. The transition was one of the largest currency changes in modern history.
Not every European Union country uses the euro: Denmark has an opt-out, and several members have not yet adopted it. Some non-EU territories and states also use the euro through formal agreements or unilateral adoption.