2009

2009 has been designated as International Year of Astronomy.

January 1, 2009

 * Republic of Ireland bans the use of incandescent light bulbs.
 * Czech Republic takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from France.
 * The U.S. Mint will extend the 50 State Quarters program by minting quarters in honor of Washington, DC. Coins for Puerto Rico, Guam, the US Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands will follow throughout the year.
 * The European Union Treaty of Lisbon is expected to enter into force.
 * Slovakia is scheduled to adopt the Euro as the nation's official currency.
 * Deadline by which goods in all member states of the European Union must be sold in metric units (this has already been completed everywhere, except in the United Kingdom). Road signs in the UK are unaffected (road signs in all other member states are already in metric units).
 * Swedish pharmacy monopoly is expected to end.

External link
2009 predicted and sheduled events