Officials have decided that children may be able to play a key role in the education process, and a website has been set up specifically for them. The first of the games has already been uploaded on the website. They have the opportunity for a bit of fantasy, but they learn about the currency at the same time. Children can play a very important role disseminating information, to their parents and grandparents, and also their friends at school. But child's play it won't be.
Some experts fear the authorities have underestimated just how much can go wrong at street level.
In some countries conversion rates are fiendishly complicated. In Austria, for instance, one Schilling is worth seven hundredths of a Euro. It is also clear many small retailers have not even begun their Euro preparations. What is more, the changeover is taking place between Christmas and the January sales, the busiest shopping period of the year. Europe Today is the World Service's specialist programme for European news - about Europe, from Europe.