PURPOSE: to recast Council Regulation (EC) No 975/98 on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins intended for circulation.
NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Regulation (EU) No 729/2014 on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins intended for circulation.
CONTENT: in the interests of clarity, the Regulation replaces Regulation (EC) No 975/98 which has been substantially amended several times since its adoption in 1998 and introduces further amendments.
The measures intend to harmonise the denominations and technical specifications of all coins intended for circulation to the extent necessary to permit their smooth circulation within the Union.
The series of euro coins shall include eight denominations in the range from 1 cent to 2 euro which shall meet the technical specifications set out in Annex I (diameter, thickness, weight, shape, colour, composition, edge).
The Regulation contains provisions are regards: i) circulation coins; (ii) regular coins (circulation coins excluding commemorative coins); (iii) commemorative coins.
Taking into account that euro coins circulate in the whole euro area, to avoid the use of inappropriate designs, the Regulation provides that issuing Member States should inform each other and the Commission about draft designs for the national side of euro coins in advance of the planned issue date. The Commission should verify the compliance of the designs with the technical requirements of this Regulation.
Furthermore, uniform conditions for the approval of the designs of the national sides of euro coins should be laid down to avoid the choice of designs which could be considered as inappropriate in some Member States.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 22.07.2014.