COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL

on the evaluation of the Programme for exchange, assistance and training for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting ('Pericles' Programme)

1. Introduction

The 'Pericles' Programme is an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting. The programme was established by Council Decision 2001/923/EC of 17 December 2001[1] and extended to all EU Member States, also including the ones which have not adopted the euro as the single currency, by Council Decision 2001/924/EC of 17 December 2001.[2] Subsequent amendments to these basic acts by Council Decisions 2006/75/EC,[3] 2006/76/EC,[4] 2006/849/EC[5] and 2006/850/EC[6] have 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 is required by Council Decision 2006/849/EC which amends Council Decision 2001/923/EC and provides that, by 30 June 2013, the Commission shall send to the European Parliament and the Council a report, which shall be independent of the programme manager, evaluating the relevance, efficiency and effectiveness of the programme and a communication on whether the programme should be continued and adapted, accompanied by an appropriate proposal.

The evaluation was performed by the Internal Audit Capability and Evaluation function of OLAF assisted by a Steering Group which also ensured the quality control of the evaluation. The Steering Group included representatives from the European Central Bank (Anti-Counterfeiting Section) and the following European Commission services: OLAF/D5 (Hercules, Pericles and euro protection) OLAF/R2 (Budget), Secretariat General/C1 (Evaluation and simplification) and DG Justice/B2 (Criminal Law).

2. Main conclusions of the evaluation

The evaluation exercise analysed the relevance, the European and overall value-added, as well as efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of the programme. 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.

3. Way forward

The Commission's "Proposal for a Regulation 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)[7]" 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[8]", 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.

[1] OJ L 339 of 21.12.2001.

[2] OJ L 339 of 21.12.2001.

[3] OJ L 36 of 8.2.2006.

[4] OJ L 36 of 8.2.2006.

[5] OJ L 330 of 28.11.2006.

[6] OJ L 330 of 28.11.2006.

[7] 2011/0449(COD) – COM(2011)0913 – C7-0510/2011.

[8] 2011/0446(APP) – COM(2011)0910.