Ladies and gentlemen, Welcome to the unveiling of the new €20 banknote. Before I put my signature on the new note, allow me to say a few words about the importance of euro banknotes. In total, there are now 17.5 billion euro banknotes in circulation; the total value of these banknotes reached €1,000 billion for the first time in December 2014. The euro notes that we use every day are the most tangible symbols of European integration. The introduction of a new banknote serves as a reminder that this integration is an ongoing process. Euro banknotes touch the lives of every one of us. As such, they bring us all closer ... (full story)