Combating fraud and counterfeiting: security of the non-cash means of payment

In adopting the report by Mr Gerhard SCHMID (PSE, D), the European Parliament approved, subject to certain amendments, the draft framework for action on combating fraud and counterfeiting of non-cash means of payment. In order to combat effectively fraud and counterfeiting of non-cash means of payment, Parliament called for such fraud to be classified as a criminal offence in all Member States and for perpetrators to be punished. Parliament called for the adoption of a range of measures (including a voluntary undertaking by the industry, legislation or other measures adopted in the context of the internal market) with regard to payment cards (electronic signatures), the use of payment cards on the Internet, automatic teller machines, software and on-line banking transactions. In order to protect the euro, it recommended an exchange of information between the European Central Bank and national central banks and the setting-up of a database containing technical particulars concerning false or counterfeit euro banknotes and coins. It called on the Commission to submit a proposal for a multidisciplinary training programme for officers responsible for combating counterfeiting of means of payment and for the banking and trade sectors. The powers of Europol should be extended to include combating counterfeiting of means of payment.�