Publications Office — Interinstitutional style guide — 7.3.3. Rules for expressing monetary units

Without amount
With amount: euro
With amount: other currencies
Position of the ISO code or euro sign
With million or billion

7.3.3. Rules for expressing monetary units

Sans chiffre

When a monetary unit is referred to generally but an amount is not included it is written in letters (except in tables):

an amount in euros

a sum in pounds sterling

With amount

Euro

When the monetary unit is accompanied by an amount, use the ISO code ‘EUR’ followed by a fixed space and the amount in figures, even in running text, in Community acts and in other publications:

The amount required is EUR 12 500.

A difference of EUR 1 550 has been noted.

NB:

The euro sign (€) is reserved for use in graphics. However, its use is permitted in popular works and promotional publications (e.g. sales catalogues).

Other currencies

When the monetary unit is accompanied by an amount, use the relevant ISO code for the currency followed by a fixed space and the amount in figures:

A sum of GBP 300 was received and GBP 250 was spent.

euro

EUR

€

When referring to the currency but not to a specific amount (e.g. payment is to be made in euros).

Whenever an amount is included
(e.g. EUR 253 and EUR 10 million).

In headings of tables and graphs: (EUR), (1 000 EUR) or (billion EUR).

Reserved for graphics (e.g. illustrations, graphs).

Permitted in popular works or promotional publications (e.g. sales catalogues)

Position of the ISO code or euro sign in amounts

In English texts, the ISO code ‘EUR’ (or the euro sign) is followed by a fixed space and the amount:

a sum of EUR 30

In all other official EU languages the order is reversed; the amount is followed by a fixed space and the ISO code ‘EUR’ or the euro sign:

une somme de 30 EUR

With million or billion

Avec l’euro, toujours utiliser le code ISO (EUR); avec les autres monnaies, la première mention est écrite en entier, puis fait place au code ISO:

une recette de 10 millions de dollars des États-Unis, ainsi qu’une dépense de 5 millions USD

The following forms may be used when referring to millions or billions:

—

all figures:

EUR 10 000 000

—

with the words ‘million’ or ‘billion’:

EUR 10 million

EUR 15 billion

—

in table headings (usually within parentheses):

million EUR, billion GBP

10 million EUR, 10 billion GBP

EUR 10 million EUR 10 billion
... and in other languages?
ES	10 millones de euros	10 000 millones de euros
DA	10 mio. EUR	10 mia. EUR
DE	10 Mio. EUR	10 Mrd. EUR
EL	10 εκατ. EUR	10 δισ. EUR
EN	EUR 10 million	EUR 10 billion
FR	10 Mio EUR	10 Mrd EUR
IT	10 Mio EUR	10 Mrd EUR
NL	10 mln EUR	10 mld EUR
PT	10 milhões EUR	10 mil milhões EUR
FI	10 milj. euroa	10 mrd. euroa
SV	10 mn euro	10 md euro

Million/billion with decimals

When dealing with budgetary data, it is advisable to use the following form.

—

Up to three decimal places, keep to the appropriate unit:

1.326 billion (not 1 326 million)

—

Above three decimal places, descend to the inferior unit:

1 326.1 million (not 1.3261 billion)

This makes the figures easier to read and compare.