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The European Exchange Rate Mechanism, ERM, was a system introduced by the European Community in March 1979, as part of the European Monetary System (EMS), to reduce exchange rate variability and achieve monetary stability in Europe, in preparation for Economic and Monetary Union and the introduction of a single currency, the euro, which took place on 1 January 1999.

Contents 1 Intent and operation of the ERM 2 The Irish pound loses parity with pound sterling 3 Pound sterling's forced withdrawal from the ERM 4 Increase of margins 5 Replacement with the euro and ERM II 6 Current status of the ERM II 7 Exchange rate bands 7.1 Remarks 8 References 9 External links 9.1 Articles

The ERM is based on the concept of fixed currency exchange rate margins, but with exchange rates variable within those margins. Before the introduction of the euro, exchange rates were based on the ECU, the European unit of account, whose value was determined as a weighted average of the participating currencies.

A grid (known as the Parity Grid) of bilateral rates was calculated on the basis of these central rates expressed in ECUs, and currency fluctuations had to be contained within a margin of 2.25% on either side of the bilateral rates (with the exception of the Italian lira, which was allowed a margin of 6%). Determined intervention and loan arrangements protected the participating currencies from greater exchange rates fluctuations.

Ireland's participation in ERM resulted in the Irish pound breaking parity with the pound sterling in 1979 as very shortly after the launch of the ERM the pound sterling, not at the time an ERM currency, appreciated against all ERM currencies and continued parity would have taken the Irish pound outside of its agreed band.

The United Kingdom entered the ERM in 1990, but was forced to exit the programme in 1992 after the pound sterling came under major pressure from currency speculators, including George Soros. The ensuing crash of 16 September 1992 was subsequently dubbed "Black Wednesday". There has been some revision of attitude towards this event given the UK's strong economic performance since 1992, with some commentators dubbing it "White Wednesday". Some commentators took to referring to ERM as an "Eternal Recession Mechanism", after the UK fell into recession during the early 1990s. The UK spent over £6bn trying to keep the currency within the narrow limits, spending the Gold reserves.^{[citations needed]}

In 1993, the margin had to be expanded to 15% to accommodate speculation against the French franc and other currencies.

On 31 December 1998, the ECU exchanges rates of the Eurozone countries were frozen and the value of the euro, which then superseded the ECU at par, was thus established.

In 1999, ERM II replaced the original ERM. The Greek and Danish currencies were part of the system, but when Greece joined the euro in 2001, the Danish krone was left as the only participant member. Currencies in ERM II are allowed to float within a range of ±15% with respect to a central rate against the euro. In the case of the krone, Danmarks Nationalbank keeps the exchange rate within the narrower range of ± 2.25% against the central rate of EUR 1 = DKK 7.460 38.

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As of 1 May 2004, the ten National Central Banks (NCBs) of the new member countries became party to the ERM II Central Bank Agreement. The national currencies themselves will become part of the ERM II at different dates, as mutually agreed.

The Estonian kroon, Lithuanian litas, and Slovenian tolar were included in the ERM II on 28 June 2004; the Cypriot pound, the Latvian lats and the Maltese lira on 2 May 2005; the Slovak koruna on 28 November 2005.^[1] The currencies of the three largest countries which joined the European Union on 1 May 2004 (the Polish zloty, the Czech koruna, and the Hungarian forint) are expected to follow eventually.

Plans for Bulgaria are to apply for ERM II membership in the beginning of 2007 and to commit to its rules regardless of the European Commission decision,^[2] while Romania plans to join ERM in 2010-2012.^[3]

EU countries that have not adopted the euro are expected to participate for at least two years in the ERM II before joining the Eurozone. As Slovenia adopted the euro in 2007, the Slovenian tolar was removed from the ERM II and from circulation. The same will happen to the Maltese lira and the Cypriot pound on 1 January 2008.

Sweden is expected to participate in ERM II in order to meet the convergence criteria required for switching currency, but has deliberately chosen to stay out of the mechanism, thus maintaining their currency Swedish krona. This choice is currently tolerated by the ECB, but it has been warned it won't be tolerated for newer union members.

In theory, most of the currencies are allowed to fluctuate as much as 15% from their assigned value. In practice, however, the currencies of the Baltic countries are pegged tightly to the central rate, and the others except for the Slovak koruna deviate very little (usually less than 1%) from it. In contrast, the Slovak koruna is allowed much leeway to float.

Currency	Code	Central Rate	Band
Cypriot pound	CYP	0.585 274	15%
Danish krone	DKK	7.460 38	2.25%
Estonian kroon	EEK	15.646 6	15%
Lithuanian litas	LTL	3.452 80	15%
Latvian lats	LVL	0.702 804	15%
Maltese lira	MTL	0.429 300	15%
Slovak koruna	SKK	35.442 41	15%

1. The rate was 38.455 0 before 17 March 2007.^[4][5][6]

• European Central Bank press releases:
• On inclusion of the 10 new NCBs
• On inclusion of the Slovenian tolar
• On inclusion of the Lithuanian litas
• On inclusion of the Estonian kroon
• On inclusion of the Latvian lats
• On inclusion of the Cyprus pound
• On inclusion of the Maltese lira
• On inclusion of the Slovak koruna

• Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Pound drops out of ERM - September 17, 1992

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