PURPOSE : to protect the euro against counterfeiting.

LEGISLATIVE ACT : Council Decision 2005/511/JHA on protecting the euro against counterfeiting, by designating Europol as the Central Office for combating euro counterfeiting.

CONTENT : as the legal currency of 12 Member States, the euro has increasingly become a global currency and has therefore become a high-priority target of international counterfeiting organisations in the European Union and third countries. A further increase in the number of counterfeit euro, which would jeopardise the free circulation of euro banknotes and coins, is to be prevented. Cooperation among the Member States themselves and between the Member States and Europol needs to be stepped up in order to strengthen the system for the protection of the euro outside the European Union territory. The International Convention for the Suppression of Counterfeiting Currency agreed on 20 April 1929 in Geneva, should be applied more effectively under the conditions of European integration.

This Decision protects the euro against counterfeiting, by designating Europol as the central office for combating euro counterfeiting.

For the Member States which are contracting parties to the international convention for the suppression of counterfeiting currency, agreed in 1929 in Geneva, Europol will act as the central office for combating euro counterfeiting within the meaning of this convention.

The existing competencies of the national central offices will remain in effect for counterfeiting of all other currencies and for central office functions not delegated to Europol.

ENTRY INTO FORCE : 16/07/2005.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Agustín DIAZ DE MERA GARCIA CONSUEGRA (EPP-ED, Spain) and approved the initiative subject to some amendments:

- Parliament emphasised through changes to the recitals and operative clauses that the powers assigned to Europol for the purpose of protecting the euro against counterfeiting within the framework of the Geneva Convention must be exercised alongside those of the national central offices of the Member States and in close cooperation with those offices;

- it also stated that Europol will act as the European Union’s central office for action to combat euro counterfeiting for the purposes of the Geneva Convention - a task which it will perform alongside and in close cooperation with the national central offices of the Member States.

Members deleted previous references to Europol acting in this capacity only for those Member States that are party to the Geneva Convention, and they similarly deleted the obligation placed in the text for new Member States to become parties to the Convention. The text now states that Europol shall act for all Member States.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Agustín DIAZ DE MERA GARCIA CONSUEGRA (EPP-ED, Spain) and approved the initiative subject to some amendments:

- Parliament emphasised through changes to the recitals and operative clauses that the powers assigned to Europol for the purpose of protecting the euro against counterfeiting within the framework of the Geneva Convention must be exercised alongside those of the national central offices of the Member States and in close cooperation with those offices;

- it also stated that Europol will act as the European Union’s central office for action to combat euro counterfeiting for the purposes of the Geneva Convention - a task which it will perform alongside and in close cooperation with the national central offices of the Member States.

Members deleted previous references to Europol acting in this capacity only for those Member States that are party to the Geneva Convention, and they similarly deleted the obligation placed in the text for new Member States to become parties to the Convention. The text now states that Europol shall act for all Member States.

PURPOSE : to present an initiative of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, the Italian Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with a view to adopting a Council Decision on protecting the euro against counterfeiting, by designating Europol as the Central Office for combating euro counterfeiting.

CONTENT : the euro has also become the target of third-country counterfeiters. A further increase in the number of counterfeit euros, which would jeopardise the free circulation of euro banknotes and coins, is to be prevented. The Convention for the Prevention of Counterfeiting Currency, agreed on 20 April 1929 in Geneva, should be applied more effectively under the conditions of European integration. Third countries need a central contact for information on counterfeit euros and all information on counterfeit euros should be brought together at Europol for purposes of analysis.

In view of Council Regulation 1338/2001/EC of 28 June 2001 laying down measures necessary for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting, the Council considers it appropriate for all Member States to become contracting parties to the Geneva Convention and set up central offices within the meaning of Article 12 of the Convention. The Council considers it appropriate to designate Europol as the central office for combating euro counterfeiting. This is the aim of this proposal.

This draft initiative stipulates that for the Member States which are Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention, namely Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom, Europol shall act as the central office for combating euro counterfeiting. For counterfeiting of all other currencies and for central office functions not delegated to Europol pursuant to the Declaration, the existing competencies of the national central offices shall remain in effect.

Member States, which are not yet Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention, namely Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia and Slovenia, shall accede to the Geneva Convention. Upon acceding to the Geneva Convention, they shall, in accordance with the Declaration, designate Europol as the central office for combating euro counterfeiting.

The governments of the Member States which are Contracting Parties shall issue the Declaration and commission the representative of the Federal Republic of Germany to forward the Declarations to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

The governments of the Member States which are not yet Contracting Parties shall, in the event of accession, promptly issue the Declaration and commission the representative of the Federal Republic of Germany to forward the Declaration to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

PURPOSE : to present an initiative of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, the Italian Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with a view to adopting a Council Decision on protecting the euro against counterfeiting, by designating Europol as the Central Office for combating euro counterfeiting.

CONTENT : the euro has also become the target of third-country counterfeiters. A further increase in the number of counterfeit euros, which would jeopardise the free circulation of euro banknotes and coins, is to be prevented. The Convention for the Prevention of Counterfeiting Currency, agreed on 20 April 1929 in Geneva, should be applied more effectively under the conditions of European integration. Third countries need a central contact for information on counterfeit euros and all information on counterfeit euros should be brought together at Europol for purposes of analysis.

In view of Council Regulation 1338/2001/EC of 28 June 2001 laying down measures necessary for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting, the Council considers it appropriate for all Member States to become contracting parties to the Geneva Convention and set up central offices within the meaning of Article 12 of the Convention. The Council considers it appropriate to designate Europol as the central office for combating euro counterfeiting. This is the aim of this proposal.

This draft initiative stipulates that for the Member States which are Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention, namely Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom, Europol shall act as the central office for combating euro counterfeiting. For counterfeiting of all other currencies and for central office functions not delegated to Europol pursuant to the Declaration, the existing competencies of the national central offices shall remain in effect.

Member States, which are not yet Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention, namely Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia and Slovenia, shall accede to the Geneva Convention. Upon acceding to the Geneva Convention, they shall, in accordance with the Declaration, designate Europol as the central office for combating euro counterfeiting.

The governments of the Member States which are Contracting Parties shall issue the Declaration and commission the representative of the Federal Republic of Germany to forward the Declarations to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

The governments of the Member States which are not yet Contracting Parties shall, in the event of accession, promptly issue the Declaration and commission the representative of the Federal Republic of Germany to forward the Declaration to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.