Belgium announced on Feb 6, 2001, its final plans for the switch to euro notes and coins in 2002, a mammoth logistical task which is set to mobilise all 12 euro zone countries in the second half of this year. Belgium's "Euro Commission" said banks and security firms would start receiving Belgium's estimated two billion euro coins, weighing 9,000 tonnes, and 530 million bank notes from September 1, 2001.

Consumers and retailers cannot use the new currency until January 1, 2002 but Belgians will