Euro: denominations and technical specifications of euro coins

1997/0154(SYN)
The Commission rejected all the amendments contained in the decision adopted by the European Parliament at second reading. As regards Parliament's call for the coinage system not to include the 0.20 and 0.02 euro denominations, the Commission says that the series of eight coins is based on the national coinage systems. It is necessary in order to accommodate rounding needs and the change to be given in all Member States. It is an important instrument to protect citizens against hidden rounding or other unjustified price modifications. Suppressing the 2 and 20 cent coins would also increase the volume of coins to be produced, since more 1 and 10 cent coins would be needed. The Commission also considers that it would not be consistent with the system of banknotes and coins to have a 100 euro face value coin, as a banknote with this value is already planned.�