At another, no-less-important, level, the euro is a symbol of shared values and a common objective – the objective of bringing our citizens closer together in an environment in which they can prosper. BIS Review 58/2008  1  I need to add, however, that the benefits of a single currency and a credible central bank do not come automatically.
They depend to an important extent on the economic policies pursued by the euro area countries themselves. From a national perspective, therefore, the challenge is to maximize the benefits of participation in a monetary union by making further progress on the path of reform.