Pericles V exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting 2027–2034.

PURPOSE: to extend the Pericles V programme to the Member States of the European Union not yet using the euro as their single currency for the 2028-2034 period.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. 

BACKGROUND: the Pericles programme is an exchange, assistance and training programme to protect the euro against counterfeiting whose effects were first extended to the EU Member States that had not adopted the euro as their currency in 2001. The programme - and its extension to these Member States - has subsequently been renewed on several occasions, most recently in 2021. The current programme expires on 31 December 2027.

The Commission therefore proposes to continue the programme under the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework, and this proposal for a regulation, based on Article 352 TFEU, seeks to extend its effects to those EU Member States which have not adopted the euro as their currency.  Since the exchange of information and staff and the assistance and training measures implemented under the Pericles programme should be uniform throughout the Union, the requisite measures need to be taken to ensure the same level of protection for the euro in the Member States that do not have the euro as their official currency. The active role of non-participating Member States in the Pericles programme is relevant and significant, with several non-participating Member States like Romania and Bulgaria playing a significant role in gathering experts from South-East Europe to reinforce the protection of the euro against counterfeiting in this area.

CONTENT: the proposed regulation seeks to extend to Member States which have not yet adopted the euro as their currency the application of the regulation establishing an exchange, assistance and training programme for the defence of the euro against counterfeiting for the period 2028-2034.

The purpose of the Pericles V is to support an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting for the post-2027 period to ensure the same level of protection for the euro in the Member States that do not have the euro as their official currency.

Budgetary implications

There is a proposed indicative financial envelope of EUR 7 million (in current prices) for the Pericles V programme for the 2028-2034 period.