Counterfeit euro coins: analysis and cooperation

PURPOSE : to present a proposal for a Council Decision concerning the cooperation with regard to counterfeit euro coins. CONTENT : to recall, Council Regulation 1338/2001/EC laying down measures necessary for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting provides for the analysis and classification of counterfeiting coins by the Coin National Analysis Centre (CNAC) in each of the Member States and by the European Technical Analysis and Scientific Centre (ETSC). The Commission has provided, since the year 2000, the framework for the co-ordination of the relevant actions of those technical authorities. Since 2001, the ETSC has been carrying out its tasks on a temporary basis at the French Mint with administrative support and management provided by the Commission. The aim of the proposed Council Decision is to formally assign to the Commission responsibility to ensure the functioning of the ETSC and the co-ordination of the activities of the competent technical authorities to protect the euro against counterfeiting.�