Euro: protection against counterfeiting. Initiative France

In this document produced by the French delegation, a explanatory statement is proposed to other Union delegations in order to present the objectives of the draft decision on the protection of the euro against counterfeiting. Amongst the principles highlighted in this document and which guided the development of the project, one should remember the fact that this proposal will be useful in completing the future Community regulation relating to the protection of the Euro against counterfeiting which aims to ensure a high level of protection for the euro by setting up a unique system of technical analysis which obliges the banking authorities to control the authenticity of notes and by organising the processing of technical and statistical data on counterfeiting. This proposal, which should be adopted in the near future, shall make up the cornerstone of the provision to protect the euro. However, the French delegation believes that it must be completed by a third pillar instrument so that the authorities in charge of technical analysis are equally in charge of these operations in the framework of penal investigations. The proposed text should ensure a coherent and efficient overall measure for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting. �