A4-0061/98

Resolution on the communication from the Commission on the practical aspects of the introduction of the euro (COM(97)0491 - C4-0524/97) and the Commission working paper entitled 'Preparations for the changeover of public administrations to the euro' (SEC(97)2384 - C4-0025/98)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the communication from the Commission (COM(97)0491 - C4-0524/97),

- having regard to the Commission working paper (SEC(97)2384 - C4-0025/98),

- having regard to its opinion of 28 November 1996 on the proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) on some provisions relating to the introduction of the euro ((OJ C 380, 16.12.1996, p. 47.)),

- having regard to its opinion of 28 November 1996 on the proposal for a Council Regulation on the introduction of the euro ((OJ C 380, 16.12.1996, p.50.)),

- having regard to the Council resolution of 7 July 1997 on a legal framework for the introduction of the euro ((OJ C 236, 2.8.1997, p. 7.)),

- having regard to the conclusions of the Madrid European Council of December 1995 concerning the political agreement on the timetable for the introduction of the euro,

- having regard to the conclusions of the Ecofin Council meetings of 13 October and 17 November 1997,

- having regard to the decisions taken by the European Monetary Institute concerning the design of future euro banknotes,

- having regard to the proposal for a Council Regulation on unit values and the technical specifications of euro coins (COM(97)0247 - C4-0340/97 - 97/0154(SYN)) and the decisions already taken by certain Member States on the national sides of euro coins,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy (A4-0061/98),

A. whereas preparing citizens of the Member States concerned for the introduction of the euro is an essential step in order to ensure the success of economic and monetary union and, from certain points of view, is almost as important as monetary stability,

B. whereas it is time for those Member States that have not already done so to begin training, education and information programmes concerning the introduction of the euro and for other Member States to step up their activities in this area; whereas these programmes must be undertaken by the public authorities of the Member States and the trade and distribution sectors on the one hand and the banking and financial sector on the other in close cooperation with the national consumers' associations,

C. whereas from 1 January 1999 citizens will be able to use the euro to make payments other than cash payments and get used to prices and values in euro before the introduction of banknotes and coins,

D. bearing in mind that with the monetary union in place banknotes of the participating countries will be the same as today but their real value will no longer be the mark, franc, guilder, lire, peseta or schilling but the corresponding amount in euro,

E. whereas the date of the introduction of euro banknotes and coins has been fixed at 1 January 2002, as agreed at the Madrid Summit and confirmed by the Ecofin Council on 17 November 1997, and whereas the three-year period (from 1 January 1999 to 1 January 2002) is psychologically necessary to allow the euro to be introduced under satisfactory conditions,

F. whereas the work concerning the technical specifications of future euro banknotes and coins having been concluded, their production will be able to begin in May 1998,

G. whereas the introduction of the euro may lead to fraud and abuse during the first years and whereas particular attention should therefore be paid to combating forgery and attempts at fraud,

H. whereas all the economic, political and social players must be fully conscious of the considerable efforts they will have to undertake to ensure that the euro is introduced smoothly and without any economic or psychological upsets,

1. Welcomes the Commission's communication on the practical aspects of the introduction of the euro, bearing in mind the pressing need for decisions, in particular by the public authorities; calls, nevertheless, on the Commission to provide periodic information on the development of the situation in the various Member States and in particular in those which will be able to introduce the euro on 1 January 1999;

2. Notes that even if the public administrations of most of the Member States concerned have already set up the institutional framework for the introduction of the euro, the time has now come for action. This applies both to the introduction of the euro in the European institutions and to measures by the national authorities to encourage the private sector;

3. Considers that the Member States concerned must pay particular attention to the conditions under which the euro is introduced and the way it is used for small and medium-sized businesses, immediately after 1 January 1999, in order to avert any risk of their losing competitiveness vis-à-vis other undertakings;

4. Recommends to Member States that they show particular concern towards 'vulnerable' social groups of the population (the elderly, low-income groups, the disabled) after the introduction of the euro;

5. Considers it necessary that the Member States should unveil their changeover plans as rapidly as possible, and notably submit statements on accounting, reporting and tax declarations in euros in order to give citizens, businesses and government departments the correct and prompt information they need concerning the introduction of the euro, and that the Member States should ensure that these plans are disseminated as widely as possible;

6. Considers also that the Member States concerned must swiftly adopt the legislation relating to these changeover plans and the relevant technical implementing provisions, for example concerning the arrangements for redenominating public debt in euros, with a constant eye for harmonization; calls on the Commission to make the appropriate recommendations in this respect;

7. Considers that the Member States concerned should publish the design of the national face of coins as soon as possible;

8. Recommends to the future Member States of the euro zone, in partnership with the European institutions, that they launch their national information campaigns at the earliest opportunity in the second half of 1988, given that citizens need correct and prompt information on all the practical aspects of the introduction of the euro;

9. Reminds the Commission and the public authorities of the Member States of the specific role which Members of the European Parliament may play in the euro information campaigns by virtue of their representative status and their European democratic legitimacy, and refers to Article 8 of the Memorandum of understanding concerning information on introduction of the euro, which has been agreed by the Member States, the Commission and Parliament, and which states that the parties, acting together, may define the role of members of parliament;

10. Supports the Commission's information campaign in the PRINCE programme on the practical aspects of the euro; believes, however, that the campaign should also draw on the expertise of advertising agencies in Europe in order to foster and disseminate among citizens a feeling of participation, confidence and attachment towards the single currency; calls, therefore, on the Commission to seek the advice of European advertising professionals by convening a meeting of all parties concerned for a round-table discussion of this subject;

11. Takes the view that dual price display should be optional during the transitional period in order to give markets greater flexibility in finding the optimal solutions which strike a balance between consumers' demands and the needs of shopkeepers in adapting to utilization of the euro; considers nevertheless that professional associations should encourage their members to practise double labelling or carry out operations of this type on a temporary basis;

12. Considers, however, that if dual display fails to catch on properly because it is optional, the public authorities will have to take whatever measures are necessary to make it compulsory in the retailing sector; takes the view, moreover, that a dual display of prices will secure competitive advantages for businesses, but that small and medium-sized enterprises should be assisted in their efforts to provide dual pricing;

13. Considers that the period during which national and euro banknotes and coins are in simultaneous circulation should be reduced to the minimum in order to avoid complications for consumers and to limit the additional costs for business;

14. Considers that the practical aspects of the changeover to the euro concerning relations between workers and employers can best be regulated by mutual agreement between the social partners in the Member States;

15. Considers it indispensable that the principle of free compulsory conversions - whether in bank money or in cash - between the relevant national currency and the euro is secured and that charging is completely transparent;

16. Believes that the commercial costs resulting from conversion transactions between the national currency units of the participating Member States (national currency, non-decimal subdivisions of the euro) will be reduced through the elimination of exchange risks, and that it is the duty of banking and financial institutions, encouraged by their competitive framework, to find commercial formulas to make it possible to minimize the costs to the consumer;

17. Stresses the paramount importance of involving the information technology (IT) sector in the introduction of the euro and calls, therefore, for that industry to facilitate and closely monitor the transition to the euro by developing IT products linked to the use of the euro and anticipating, as far as possible, the technical modifications needed; recommends, furthermore, that these changes be timed to coincide with those due at the millennium;

18. Recommends that the measures being taken to register the euro symbol with the relevant authorities be speeded up and urges manufacturers and retailers of computer equipment to affix the euro symbol as rapidly as possible on the new computer keyboards and printer equipment in order to familiarize the public with this symbol;

19. Considers that the Member States must give their citizens confidence in the new currency by guaranteeing that all criminal acts linked to the introduction of the euro will be punished;

20. Insists on the need to make provision in all Member States forthwith for a sufficient number of educational and training programmes concerning the introduction of the euro tailored to the specific needs of different groups in society, with particular emphasis on practical details;

21. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and the Council.

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