二○○七年一月一日斯洛維尼亞(Slovenia)正式加入歐元區(Euro Area)，歐元(Euro)取代托拉爾(Tolar)成為斯洛維尼亞的法定貨幣，斯洛維尼亞成為二○○四年加入之歐洲聯盟(European Union)新成員國中，首個順利加入歐元區的國家。十國在入盟之際即成為享有例外待遇的歐洲經濟暨貨幣聯盟(European Economic and Monetary Union)會員國(member states with a derogation)，直至滿足趨同標準(convergence criteria)之規定後，才可加入歐元區。歐元區的會員資格將為斯洛維尼亞帶來新的機會與挑戰，未來發展之成果將獲得其他新成員國關注，不同於先前歐元區十二國所採取的歐元策略與立場也提供其他新成員國寶貴的參考經驗。 1 January 2007, Slovenia started to replace the Slovene Tolar with the common currency euro. Slovenia is the first of the ten states joining the European Union (EU) in May 2004 entered the Euro Area. All of the new EU member countries have been members of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) with a derogation. But it does not imply that these countries may introduce the euro immediately. Before adopting the common currency, the new EU member states required to fulfill the convergence criteria. New strengths and opportunities are arising for Slovenia from the integration and scale of the euro area economy. For the smaller one among them, however, it is doubtful whether a national currency is a viable option in the medium to long run. Anyway, the lessons which are learned from Slovenia are the particular experiences to other countries preparing to adoption the euro. There are two key of differences between the introduction of the euro in Slovenia and the first-wave countries joining the euro area: Slovenia adopted a 'big-bang' approach and euro notes and coins were already in circulation in the world.
