Euro: designating Europol as the Central Office for combating counterfeiting. Initiative Germany, Spain, France, Italy, United Kingdom

PURPOSE : to protect the euro against counterfeiting.

LEGISLATIVE ACT : Council Decision 2005/511/JHA on protecting the euro against counterfeiting, by designating Europol as the Central Office for combating euro counterfeiting.

CONTENT : as the legal currency of 12 Member States, the euro has increasingly become a global currency and has therefore become a high-priority target of international counterfeiting organisations in the European Union and third countries. A further increase in the number of counterfeit euro, which would jeopardise the free circulation of euro banknotes and coins, is to be prevented. Cooperation among the Member States themselves and between the Member States and Europol needs to be stepped up in order to strengthen the system for the protection of the euro outside the European Union territory. The International Convention for the Suppression of Counterfeiting Currency agreed on 20 April 1929 in Geneva, should be applied more effectively under the conditions of European integration.

This Decision protects the euro against counterfeiting, by designating Europol as the central office for combating euro counterfeiting.

For the Member States which are contracting parties to the international convention for the suppression of counterfeiting currency, agreed in 1929 in Geneva, Europol will act as the central office for combating euro counterfeiting within the meaning of this convention.

The existing competencies of the national central offices will remain in effect for counterfeiting of all other currencies and for central office functions not delegated to Europol.

ENTRY INTO FORCE : 16/07/2005.