The Commission presents a report concerning the implementation and the results of the Pericles programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting 2006 -2013.

Implementation of the programme and results : based on the reference amount of EUR 1 million for 2006 and EUR 6.9 million for the period 2007-2013, the annual appropriations authorised under the Pericles programme were EUR 1 million per year with the exception of 2010 (EUR 0.9 million).

The report notes that the implementation of Pericles reflected the high level of interest of Member States on the protection of the euro against counterfeiting. Accordingly, 95.7% of the budget has been committed. In three consecutive years (2009-2010-2011) OLAF had to recommit budget de-committed during the same year in order to meet Member States' requests.

In the period 2006-2013 Pericles funded 113 projects . Of these projects 72 originated from the competent authorities of Member States, while 41 were initiatives of the Commission/OLAF. Most of the actions implemented during that period were training and dissemination and activities involving staff exchanges.

Target groups :

participants came from 83 countries . The majority of trainees (51%) were Member States nationals with clear predominance of staff from the euro area. European participants account for 73 % in total, while 16% of trainees were from Latin America (mainly Colombia, Peru and Argentina). While Africa was mainly represented by North African nationalities, the participation of Asian trainees was mainly limited to Chinese; with respect to the professional background of participants , members from police forces, represent 64% of the total. The report stresses the differences among the various other categories of participants (36%), including a high participation from Central Banks (11%) and judicial staff (7%).

Pericles actions took place both inside and outside the EU. In specific focus were Latin America (where Colombian and Peruvian organised crime represents a substantial threat for the euro) and neighbouring areas such as the South East of Europe (including Turkey and the Western Balkans), the Mediterranean region and the North East of Europe.

Structural and legislative improvements: Pericles actions have led to:

a number of structural and legislative improvements in Member States and in third countries. Among others, Colombia, Peru and Argentina made a strong effort to establish structures against counterfeiting similar to the National Central Offices in the European Union; assisting the acceding countries and newcomers in their efforts to apply the EU acquis in the specific area of protecting the euro; being used by the Commission in the preparation of the proposal for a Directive on the protection of the euro and other currencies against counterfeiting by criminal law.

Lastly, Regulation (EU) No 331/201417 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (the "Pericles 2020" programme) was adopted on 11 March 2014. The Commission shall provide annual information on the results of the Programme to the European Parliament and to the Council.

COM(2014)0550
EUR-Lex

This Commission Communication relates to the evaluation of the Programme for exchange, assistance and training for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (Pericles Programme).

The programme was established by Council Decision 2001/923/EC and extended to all EU Member States, also including those that have not adopted the euro as the single currency, by Council Decision 2001/924/EC. Subsequent amendments to these basic prolonged the duration of the programme until 31 December 2013. The programme budget is Euro 1 million per year.

This Communication accompanies the final report on the evaluation of the Pericles Programme. The evaluation exercise analysed the relevance, the European and overall value-added, as well as efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of the programme.

Conclusions: the findings and the overall results of the evaluation are very positive . Some areas for improvement have been identified with respect to efficiency and effectiveness , while it has been underlined that the sustainability of achieved results will depend significantly on the possibility to continue the programme beyond 2013.

Way forward: the Commission's proposal for a Regulation establishing an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (the Pericles 2020 programme) and the proposal for a Council Regulation extending the application of Regulation (EU) No …/2012 establishing an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (the Pericles 2020 programme) to the non-participating Member States, once adopted, accommodate – to a large extent – the suggestions for potential improvements. For example, these proposals include an annual reporting on the results of the Programme and clarified procedures.

The Commission will, furthermore, take the results of this evaluation into account in the framework of the implementation of the Pericles 2020 Programme through its Annual Work Programmes.

COM(2013)0588
EUR-Lex

EUR-Lex
SWD(2013)0304

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.

Decision 2006/849
OJ L 330 28.11.2006, p. 0028-0029

Results of vote in Parliament

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Agustín DÍAZ de MERA GARCÍA CONSUEGRA (EPP-ED, ES) approving the proposed Council decision amending and extending Decision 2001/923/EC (the 'Pericles' programme).

T6-0371/2006

Debate in Parliament

A6-0276/2006

A6-0276/2006

The committee adopted the report by Agustín DÍAZ de MERA GARCÍA CONSUEGRA (EPP-ED, ES) approving unamended - under the consultation procedure - the proposed Council decision 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).

PE376.393

Opinion of the European Central Bank: o n 12 June 2006, the European Central Bank (ECB) received requests from the Council of the European Union for opinions on two proposed measures: a proposal for a Council decision 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); a proposal for a Council decision extending to the non-participating Member States the application of Council Decision 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) (see CNS/2006/0079 ).

The ECB has two specific observations on the proposed legislation, in line with some of the observations made in Opinion CON/2005/22 of 21 June 2005 regarding the extension of the temporal and material scope of the Pericles programme.

It is important for Community legislation to ensure that the extension of the Pericles programme is adequately linked to the timing of :

- the introduction of the euro in the new Member States;

- the issue of the second series of euro banknotes.

The ECB confirms that an extension to 31 December 2013 would provide for such an adequate link.

In order to avoid overlaps and ensure consistency and complementarity of actions under the Pericles programme, and to take advantage of the ECB's expertise in the field, it would be beneficial for the Commission, the ECB and Europol to jointly examine initiatives to be funded under the Pericles programme, and for the selection decision to require the consultation and due consideration of the views of the two latter bodies, within the framework of the Steering Group they already established with the aim of developing a common strategy against counterfeiting of the euro.

CON/2006/0035
OJ C 163 14.07.2006, p. 0007-0009

PURPOSE : to amend and extend until the end of 2013 Decision 2001/923/EC establishing the PERICLES programme on counterfeiting .

PROPOSED ACT : Council Decision.

CONTENT : PERICLES, the Community programme for exchange, assistance and training in the protection of the euro against counterfeiting, was established by Council Decision 2001/923/EC, (see CNS/2001/0105 ), as amended and extended by the Council Decision 2006/75/EC. Article 13(3)(b) requires a detailed report on the implementation and results of the PERICLES Programme referred to above to be submitted to the European Parliament and the Council by 30 June 2006. The Commission presents a report responding to that requirement, and a proposal to amend the Decision.

Since early Summer 2003, the number of counterfeit euro banknotes detected in circulation has stabilised at about 50 000 a month, a level below the pre-euro levels, lower than the US dollar and extremely low compared to the nine billion genuine euro banknotes in circulation. At the same time, the number of counterfeit euro coins is continuing to increase but also remains low by historical standards. In addition, the police forces have successfully conducted a number of operations to dismantle workshops and seize large numbers of counterfeit banknotes and coins before they enter into circulation. This overall favourable situation is the result of a long preparation at both legislative and institutional level and demonstrates the high level of cooperation achieved in EU and at international level.

The PERICLES programme is playing a significant role in achieving the present results in the protection of the euro and the fight against the crime of counterfeiting, through the exchange of information and the development of cooperation. Continuing vigilance is needed in order to maintain and build on the results currently achieved in the fight euro counterfeiting. Training and technical assistance plays an important role in this respect, hence the need to continue the PERICLES programme.

Based on the PERICLES evaluation report of 30 November 2004 it is proposed that the Council Decision 2001/923/EC now be extended until 31 December 2013. PERICLES initially ran from 1 January 2002 until end 2005. The Council decided to extend the programme up until 31 December 2006 taking into consideration the fact that at the time of discussions Community financial perspectives were available only until 2006. The agreement reached at the Council provided that the PERICLES programme should be further extended for a number of years, up to 2011, as was proposed at the time by the Commission.

In detail, the Council considered the following grounds for extending the programme:

- continuing vigilance in order to maintain or reduce the current level of euro banknote counterfeiting and avoid any increase in euro coin counterfeiting that would undermine the confidence of the public;

- training/informing new staff and extend the training to sectors that have less benefited from the PERICLES programme, namely financial agents, prosecutors and technical staff;

- training relevant staff in the features of the new generation of the euro banknotes, to be issued at the end of this decade;

- particularly insisting on training and technical assistance in the new Member States, with priority to those who will first introduce the euro as their single currency.

There is a manifest need for continuous training and technical assistance for the protection of the euro. This is both because Member States are likely to join the euro area and due to the need for continuous updating of expertise in relevant services.

The Council reached final agreement on the financial perspectives for the period 2007- 2013 at the European Council meeting on 15-16 December 2005. It is current practice that Community financing programmes match the duration of the Community’s financial perspectives. This contributes to streamlining the approval of programmes and avoiding procedures to fill gap periods.

In the light of the above considerations, it is proposed that the PERICLES programme be extended for a further period of seven years, until the end of 2013 with an unchanged yearly amount of EUR 1 million per year. The new end-date is 31 December 2013, and the reference amount is set at EUR 7 million. The date of application will be 1 January 2007.

This proposal is closely linked to the concurrent proposal to extend to the non-participating Member States the application of this proposed Decision amending and extending Decision 2001/923/EC establishing the PERICLES programme. (Please see procedure reference CNS/2005/0079 ).

For further information concerning the financial implications of this measure, please refer to the financial statement.

COM(2006)0243
EUR-Lex

PURPOSE : to amend and extend until the end of 2013 Decision 2001/923/EC establishing the PERICLES programme on counterfeiting .

PROPOSED ACT : Council Decision.

CONTENT : PERICLES, the Community programme for exchange, assistance and training in the protection of the euro against counterfeiting, was established by Council Decision 2001/923/EC, (see CNS/2001/0105 ), as amended and extended by the Council Decision 2006/75/EC. Article 13(3)(b) requires a detailed report on the implementation and results of the PERICLES Programme referred to above to be submitted to the European Parliament and the Council by 30 June 2006. The Commission presents a report responding to that requirement, and a proposal to amend the Decision.

Since early Summer 2003, the number of counterfeit euro banknotes detected in circulation has stabilised at about 50 000 a month, a level below the pre-euro levels, lower than the US dollar and extremely low compared to the nine billion genuine euro banknotes in circulation. At the same time, the number of counterfeit euro coins is continuing to increase but also remains low by historical standards. In addition, the police forces have successfully conducted a number of operations to dismantle workshops and seize large numbers of counterfeit banknotes and coins before they enter into circulation. This overall favourable situation is the result of a long preparation at both legislative and institutional level and demonstrates the high level of cooperation achieved in EU and at international level.

The PERICLES programme is playing a significant role in achieving the present results in the protection of the euro and the fight against the crime of counterfeiting, through the exchange of information and the development of cooperation. Continuing vigilance is needed in order to maintain and build on the results currently achieved in the fight euro counterfeiting. Training and technical assistance plays an important role in this respect, hence the need to continue the PERICLES programme.

Based on the PERICLES evaluation report of 30 November 2004 it is proposed that the Council Decision 2001/923/EC now be extended until 31 December 2013. PERICLES initially ran from 1 January 2002 until end 2005. The Council decided to extend the programme up until 31 December 2006 taking into consideration the fact that at the time of discussions Community financial perspectives were available only until 2006. The agreement reached at the Council provided that the PERICLES programme should be further extended for a number of years, up to 2011, as was proposed at the time by the Commission.

In detail, the Council considered the following grounds for extending the programme:

- continuing vigilance in order to maintain or reduce the current level of euro banknote counterfeiting and avoid any increase in euro coin counterfeiting that would undermine the confidence of the public;

- training/informing new staff and extend the training to sectors that have less benefited from the PERICLES programme, namely financial agents, prosecutors and technical staff;

- training relevant staff in the features of the new generation of the euro banknotes, to be issued at the end of this decade;

- particularly insisting on training and technical assistance in the new Member States, with priority to those who will first introduce the euro as their single currency.

There is a manifest need for continuous training and technical assistance for the protection of the euro. This is both because Member States are likely to join the euro area and due to the need for continuous updating of expertise in relevant services.

The Council reached final agreement on the financial perspectives for the period 2007- 2013 at the European Council meeting on 15-16 December 2005. It is current practice that Community financing programmes match the duration of the Community’s financial perspectives. This contributes to streamlining the approval of programmes and avoiding procedures to fill gap periods.

In the light of the above considerations, it is proposed that the PERICLES programme be extended for a further period of seven years, until the end of 2013 with an unchanged yearly amount of EUR 1 million per year. The new end-date is 31 December 2013, and the reference amount is set at EUR 7 million. The date of application will be 1 January 2007.

This proposal is closely linked to the concurrent proposal to extend to the non-participating Member States the application of this proposed Decision amending and extending Decision 2001/923/EC establishing the PERICLES programme. (Please see procedure reference CNS/2005/0079 ).

For further information concerning the financial implications of this measure, please refer to the financial statement.

COM(2006)0243
EUR-Lex