Pericles V exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting 2028–2034

The European Parliament adopted by 629 votes to 7, with 31 abstentions, amendments to the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting for the period 2028-2034 (the 'Pericles V' programme) and repealing Regulation (EU) 2021/840.

The matter was referred back to the committee responsible for interinstitutional negotiations.

The main amendments adopted in plenary are as follows:

Programme’s objectives

The programme has the specific objective to protect the euro against counterfeiting and counterfeiting-related fraud. That specific objective will also take into account emerging developments, including:

- threats to the future digital euro;

- threats posed by AI including AI-enabled forgery and AI-assisted evasion of detection systems;

- investigational opportunities offered by AI, including use of AI tools to strengthen forensic and investigative capabilities.

Budget

The programme envelope for the implementation of this regulation for the period 2028-2034 should be set at EUR 7 811 000 in current prices (EUR 6 942 000 at 2025 prices), instead of the proposed EUR 7 000 000 in current prices.

Implementation

Members stressed the need for constant vigilance and sustained cooperation among the competent authorities involved in protecting the euro, as well as the need to continue to support specialist training, information exchange, technical assistance and operational cooperation under the programme.

The programme will be implemented by the Commission in cooperation with the Member States, through regular consultations at different stages of implementation, while ensuring consistency and avoiding duplication with relevant measures taken by other competent institutions, bodies, offices and agencies, in particular the ECB, Europol and Eurojust.

To that effect, when preparing the work programmes, the Commission will take into account existing and planned activities by those institutions, bodies, offices and agencies against euro counterfeiting and counterfeiting-related fraud.

The Commission will provide annual reports on the results of the Pericles V programme to the European Parliament, to the Council and to the ECB, taking into account the quantitative and qualitative indicators set out in the Performance Regulation and will include a list of funded actions, their budgets, and participating entities. At the request of the competent committee of the European Parliament, the Commission will present the annual reports to that committee.