COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 13.01.1998 
COM(1998) 17 final 
97/0154 (SYN) 
OPINTON OF THE COMMTSSION 
on the amendments proposed by the European Parliament 
to the Council's common position on the 
proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) 
on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins intended for circulation 
(presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 c (d) of the EC Treaty) 

1. Introduction 
On 29 May 1997, the Commission adopted its initial proposal on denominations and 
technical specifications of euro coins (COM (97)247 final). Following the opinion of the 
European Parliament at first reading, the Commission adopted, on 14 November 1997, its 
amended proposal COM (97)615 which included some of the amendments requested by the 
European Parliament. On 20 November 1997, the Council adopted its common position 
which reflected the Commission amended proposal with some changes aimed at adding 
further clarification. The Commission has stated its full support to the common position in a 
Communication to the European Parliament of the same day (SEC (97) 2202 final). 
On 17 December 1997, the European Parliament adopted on second reading five 
amendments to the Council common position. 
The Commission is not in a position to accept any of the amendments to the common 
position decided by the European Parliament on second reading. The reasons for rejection 
of the amendments are given below. 
Although the formal adoption of the Regulation can not take place until the decision on 
participating Member States will have been taken, the Commission presents now its opinion 
in order to allow for an early political agreement on the draft Council Regulation as 
presented in the Council common position. 
2. AMENDMENTS PROPOSED BY THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ON SECOND READING AND 
REASONS WHY THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE COMMISSION 
The Commission has not accepted any of the amendments contained in the decision 
adopted by the European Parliament on second reading for the reason indicated below. 
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS COMMISSION'S REASONS 
Amendment 1 
Recital 6a (new) The system ag proposed takes already 
Whereas the number of int0 account the experience of the current 
denominations together with their national coinage systems The yalu£ of 
face value should be based on all ^ coins hag been defmed in a consistent 
Member States experience with their way wim ^ yalue of banknotes md 
national coinage systems and their taking into account the need to give 
most commonly used petty coins, and change ^ tQ ayoid systematic rounding 
should take account of the future of prices Giyen ^ uncertainty in 
needs of an economy charactenzed by forecasting the use of electronic money in 
an increasing use of electronic | t'he next yearg> -t .g npt pogsible tQ takg 
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS 
money; whereas the new coinage 
system should reflect the views of the 
blind and of the old people both of 
which have insisted on the smallest 
possible number of denominations 
forming a single series in which value 
increases with diameter; whereas, 
because in fiiture large quantities of 
coins may become superfluous as the 
use of electronic money increases, 
coins ought to be made of a material 
which can be recycled easily, such as 
stainless steel; 
Amendment 3 
Recital 8a (new) 
Whereas the denominations 
0.01/0.10/1.00 are the pillars of a 
decimal system of coinage; whereas it 
is possible to reduce the euro coinage 
system by making do without the 
proposed 0.02 and 0.20 euro 
denominations. 
Amendment 2 
ArticL ^fore Face value: euro 2) 
New denomination 
Face value (euro) 
100 
Diameter in mm. COMMISSION'S REASONS 
this aspect into consideration when 
proposing the new system. 
The reference to stainless steel in the last 
sentence as an example of material easily 
recyclable is incoherent with the proposal 
which does not provide for the use of this 
material. The materials proposed take 
into account the recycling needs as well 
as other technical requirements. 
The series of 8 coins is based on the 
current coinage systems in Member 
States. It is necessary to accommodate 
the rounding needs and the change to be 
given in all Member States taking into 
account the differences in relative prices 
and cash practices. It is an important 
instrument to protect citizens against 
hidden rounding or other unjustified price 
modifications. In addition, suppressing 
the 2 and 20 cent coins would increase 
the volume of coins to be produced since 
more 1 and 10 cent coins would be 
needed. Finally, it has to be considered 
that the use of coins is not obligatory. 
Therefore, if a specific coin in a particular 
Member State is not demanded by 
citizens it will simply neither be used nor 
produced. 
A 100 euro face value coin would not be 
consistent with the system of notes and 
coins, since the 100 euro value is already 
foreseen as a banknote. The duplication 
of the 100 euro value as a coin would be 
an abnormal situation which has no 
technical justification. The logic of the 
systems which is based on the low range 
2> 
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS COMMISSION'S REASONS 
Thickness in mm. 
Weight in gr. 
Shape 
Round 
Colour 
Yellow 
Composition 
Gold(l) 
Edge 
Edge lettering Fine milled 
(1) The value of the metal and the 
production cost must not exceed the 
nominal value 
Amendment by separate vote 
Article 1 
Deletion of the 0.20 denomination 
Amendment by separate vote 
Article 1 
Deletion of the 0.02 denomination of values being represented by coins and 
values from 5 euro and over being 
represented by banknotes would not be 
respected any more. 
Additionally, it would be very difficult to 
define the size of the coin in a way which 
would be coherent with the rest of the 
series (weight and possibly diameter 
increasing with the value) while ensuring 
that the value of the metal would not 
exceed the nominal value. 
The risk of confusion particularly for the 
blind would be substantial given the high 
value concerned. 
Such a coin could be issued by those 
Member States who wish and with proper 
authorisation of the ECB, as a collector 
coin and therefore would not need to be 
submitted to the harmonisation of 
technical specifications for the coins 
intended for circulation. 
The same reasons as for rejection of 
amendment 3 apply. Moreover the 
suppression of the 20 cent coin would 
eliminate the "Spanish flower" shape 
from the system. This shape was very 
much welcomed by all the groups 
consulted as a key feature to differentiate 
coins. 
The same reasons as for rejection of 
amendment 3 apply. 
H-
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(98) 17 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 09 01 10 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-98-017-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-30169-8 
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