Protection of the euro against counterfeiting: extending the Pericles programme until 31 December 2013

PURPOSE: to amend and extend existing provisions on the Pericles programme.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2006/849/EC amending and extending Decision 2001/923/EC establishing an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the Euro against counterfeiting (the Pericles programme).

BACKGROUND: the Pericles programme was set up by Council Decision 2001/923/EC establishing an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the Euro against counterfeiting (the "Pericles" programme). Under the terms of the Decision the Commission was to prepare an evaluation report on the programme and to decide whether or not the programme should continue.  In the evaluation Report, forwarded to the Council and Parliament in November 2004, the Commission concluded that the programme had achieved its objectives and recommended its continuation. Pericles was temporarily extended for the year 2006 through Council Decision 2006/75/EC. However, the Council, in recognition of the multi-annual nature of Pericles, decided to extend the programme until the end of 2013 in line with the Community Financial Framework 2007-2013.

CONTENT: the purpose of this Council Decision is to amend the Council Decision establishing the Pericles programme by stating that it will run from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2013. The financial reference amount for the entire period will be EUR 7 million.

The decision to continue the programme was based on the recognised need to for the Community to remain vigilant, to take the necessary training necessary for the protection of the Euro against counterfeiting and to provide a stable framework for the planning of Member States programmes – particularly given that new countries will be adopting the single currency. In order to avoid overlaps synergies will be encouraged between actions financed by the Commission, the European Central Bank and Europol.

A separate Council Decision extends the provisions of the Pericles programme to those Member States not participating in the Euro. (See Council Decision 2006/ 850/EC, CNS/2006/0079).

ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Decision will take effect on 28 November 2006. It will apply as from 1 January 2007.