Euro: protection by penal sanctions against counterfeiting and falsification. Framework Decision

The committee adopted the report by Charlotte CEDERSCHIÖLD (EPP/ED, S) approving the draft framework decision of the Council subject to a number of amendments. The report welcomed the introduction of the framework decision but criticized the fact that it did not provide protection for existing national currencies being replaced by the euro. It pointed out that those currencies may continue to be exchanged for 20 years and must therefore still be protected by penal sanctions against counterfeiting when they were no longer in circulation. The committee accordingly adopted an amendment introducing a new article to that end. It also focused on the provisions relating to jurisdiction for prosecution, and adopted an amendment aimed at ensuring that a person who has been tried in one Member State should not be liable for prosecution in another Member State in respect of the same facts. Moreover, as the framework decision is based on the principle of universal jurisdiction (under which each Member State which has adopted the euro as a national currency has jurisdiction, irrespective of where the crime was committed), the committee adopted an amendment aimed at establishing the criteria for determining where jurisdiction should lie in the event of clashes of jurisdiction.�