Euro not legal tender in so-called Kosovo - ECB, EC

FRANKFURT - The euro is not a legal tender in the so-called Kosovo as Pristina unilaterally adopted it as the de facto currency in 2002, the European Central Bank (ECB) website says.

It notes that Montenegro, which is also not an EU member, did the same in 2002.

"This means that the euro is not legal tender there, but is treated as such by the population. Before 2002, Kosovars and Montenegrins used German marks," it says.

Likewise, the European Commission website says Montenegro and the so-called Kosovo, both of which have no agreements with the EU, use the euro as their de facto domestic currency.

It says this is a continuation of an old practice of using the German mark as the de facto currency there.

The EC also notes that Monaco, San Marino, the Vatican and Andorra, which are also not in the EU, use the euro as their currency based on monetary agreements with the EU.

The so-called Kosovo's central bank adopted in late December a decree under which, on February 1, payment transactions with central Serbia will be terminated and the euro established as the only legal tender.