PURPOSE: to extend to the non-participating Member States the application of the Regulation establishing an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (the 'Pericles 2020' programme).
PROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation.
ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.
BACKGROUND: the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council which establishes the Pericles 2020 programme and replaces the Pericles programme established by Council Decision 2001/923/EC, provides that it is applicable in the Member States in accordance with the Treaties.
Article 139 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provides that measures governing the use of the euro referred to in Article 133 thereof are not applicable to the Member States with derogation.
However, the exchange of information and staff and the assistance and training measures implemented under the Pericles 2020 programme should be uniform throughout the Union and the requisite measures should therefore be taken to ensure the same level of protection for the euro in the Member States with derogation.
CONTENT: the proposal seeks to extend the application of the Regulation establishing an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (the 'Pericles 2020' programme) to the non-participating Member States.
In order to ensure a smooth transition without interruption between the Pericles programme and the Pericles 2020 programme, it is proposed to align the duration of this Regulation with the Council Regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020. Therefore, this Regulation should apply as from 1 January 2014.