Fact check: Which EU countries have successfully joined the eurozone and when?

1. Summary of the results

The Eurozone has expanded systematically since its establishment in 1999, and currently consists of 20 EU member states ^{[1] [2]}. The adoption timeline is as follows:

• 1999: Initial 11 members - Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain ^[1]
• 2001: Greece joined ^{[1] [2]}
• 2002: Physical euro currency introduced, replacing national currencies ^[2]
• 2007: Slovenia joined ^{[1] [2]}
• 2008: Cyprus and Malta joined ^{[1] [2]}
• 2009: Slovakia joined ^{[1] [2]}
• 2011: Estonia joined ^{[1] [2]}
• 2014: Latvia joined ^{[1] [2]}
• 2015: Lithuania joined ^{[1] [2]}
• 2023: Croatia became the most recent member ^{[1] [2]}

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question doesn't address several important aspects:

• Six EU member states (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Sweden) are technically obligated to adopt the euro but haven't yet done so ^[1]
• Countries must meet specific economic criteria before being eligible to join the Eurozone ^[1]
• The euro adoption process is part of the broader European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) framework ^[3]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question itself doesn't contain misinformation, but it might lead to incomplete understanding without considering:

• The distinction between EU membership and Eurozone membership
• That joining the Eurozone isn't simply a matter of choice but requires meeting specific economic benchmarks
• That while some countries are legally bound to join eventually, there's no set timeline for their adoption of the euro ^[1]

All sources consistently agree on the chronological progression of Eurozone membership, with multiple sources confirming each joining date, which adds credibility to the timeline presented.