14 May - Elena Gjika school in Pristina

Are countries that use the Euro less unique?

Delphine Borione, French Ambassador in Kosovo visited today the Elena Gjika primary school in Pristina. Thirty students between 11 and 13 years old awaited her talk with curiosity and enthusiasm.

Ms Borione explained to the students how the EU integration process started with the pooling of coal resources of France and Germany and how it continued step by step with more countries joining in and deciding to integrate even more aspects of their economy by creating a joint monetary union among some of the member, opening the borders. To manage this in a fair manner they also created joint institutions: Delphine Borione: “The EU process of integration means more opportunities, better education, more jobs, and easier travel for the citizens of the EU”. She continued to explain how this process has made the economy more competitive with the rest of the world. “The EU is based on solidarity and this is the reason why the EU is also happy to receive other countries.”

The lecture was followed by many questions some of which were very specific as for example if countries that did give up their currency in favour of Euro lost some of their uniqueness. The French Ambassador replied that the Euro entails so many benefits and opportunities that countries made the decision to give up their old currency for it.