Single Market and the Euro interviews
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Yves-Thibault de Silguy

Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs 1995-1999

'My head of cabinet came to me and said: "Listen we have a problem. The European Council is meeting in two weeks." "Yes, so what? I know." "Yes, but the ECB is presenting its initial designs for the euro." So, I had an idea. I opened my drawer and took out the 'E'. I gave them to my head of cabinet and said: "Print a thousand T-shirts, a thousand scarves, whatever you want. Put them in the press room the day before the European Council meets." The day the European Council met, the euro logo was in the headlines worldwide.'

Hearing of Yves-Thibault de Silguy as Commissioner-designate for Economic, Financial and Monetary Affairs, 4 January 1995 © European Union, 1995
Official photograph of the Santer Commission, 1 February 1995 © European Union, 1995
Minting a coin during a promotional event marking the launch of the euro, 14 July 1997 © European Union, 1997
Commissioner de Silguy speaks at a press conference on the euro with Commission President Jacques Santer, 25 March 1998 © European Union, 1998
Commissioner de Silguy celebrates at a press conference on the signing of the regulation on fixed euro parity rates, 31 December 1998 © European Union, 1998