PURPOSE: to establish an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting for the period 2021-2027 (Pericles IV programme).
PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council.
ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.
BACKGROUND: the Treaty provides that the European Parliament and the Council are to establish the measures necessary for the use of the euro as the single currency (Article 133 TFEU). Among these measures is the protection of the euro against counterfeiting. On the basis of this article, the protection of the euro as the single currency is the responsibility of the EU.
Counterfeiting of the euro poses a true problem for the Union and for its institutions. Its threats are still substantial, as demonstrated by the increasing availability of high quality counterfeit euro's and security features on the internet/darknet and the existence of counterfeiting hotspots, e.g. in Colombia, Peru and China.
Considering the cross-border circulation of the euro and the deep involvement of international organised crime in euro counterfeiting (production and distribution), it is necessary that national protection frameworks be complemented by an EU initiative to ensure homogeneous national and international cooperation, and to face possible emerging transnational risks.
The current 2020 Pericles programme is specifically dedicated to the protection of euro banknotes and coins against counterfeiting. In the mid-term evaluation of the programme, the Commission came to the conclusion that the continuation of the Pericles 2020 programme beyond 2020 should be supported, given its EU added value, its long-term impact and the sustainability of its actions.
CONTENT: the proposal for a Regulation - presented for a Union of 27 Member States - seeks to establish the Pericles IV programme, an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting. It lays down the objectives of the programme, the budget for the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2027, the forms of Union funding and the rules for providing such funding.
The proposed new programme aims to protect euro banknotes and coins against counterfeiting and related fraud,
In particular, the programme shall take responsibility for tackling specific emerging threats (such as deep/dark web) and the relationship with certain countries (e.g. China), as it is difficult for individual Member States to effectively address these threats on their own.
Implementation: the programme shall be implemented through direct management by the Commission. Financial support for eligible actions shall be granted under the programme in the form of grants or public contracts.
Actions under the programme may be organised jointly by the Commission and other partners having relevant expertise, such as: the national central banks and the European Central Bank (ECB); the National Analysis Centres (NACs) and the Coin National Analysis Centres; the European Technical and Scientific Centre and the mints; Europol, Eurojust and Interpol.
Proposed budget: the programme shall have an overall budget of EUR 7.7 million for the period 2021-2027. This amount is in line with the Commission proposal for the next multiannual financial framework for the period 2021-2027.