The bid by Malta and Cyprus to join the eurozone has created headaches in Frankfurt, as the design bodies behind the single currency's notes and coins grapple with an embarrassing dilemma, The Financial Times said.
Euro bank notes and coinage feature a map of the continent, which includes Britain - a non-euro member - and Turkey, which geographically is largely situated in Asia. But strangely they do not feature either Malta or Cyprus.
The leaders of the two Mediterranean islands, which are expected to become the 14th and 15th countries to use the euro on January 1, 2008 have registered their concerns with the European Central Bank.
Prime Minister Dr. Lawrence Gonzi submitted Malta's formal application to changeover to the euro currency at a European Union (EU) Finance Ministers meeting on 27 February in Brussels. Should the application be approved during an EU leaders’ summit in June, Malta will join the Euro zone in January 2008.
In turn in Malta, early in February 2006, it was decided that the face of the new Maltese Euro coins will include the eight pointed cross - appearing on the €1 and €2 coins, the Emblem of
Malta - featuring on the 50c, 20c and 10c coins and the altar at the prehistoric
temple of Imnajdra - pictured on the 5c, 2c and 1c coins. These were chosen by the public in a consultancy process. Almost 17,000 persons registered their preferences from among several icons and images that represent Malta and the Maltese way of life.
