WRITTEN QUESTION E-3747/98

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(11 December 1998)

Subject: Technical production of the euro coin

Given that "national symbols" will be used on the "coins" struck in connection with the introduction of the single currency, will the Commission state:

1. how many different sets of coins with different "national" designs it anticipates,

2. whether it will limit each Member State to one "national" set of coins or will, for example, Scotland, Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man and Gibraltar be permitted to strike distinct currency,

3. whether it will prevent the proliferation of addition "sets" by prohibiting countries like Andorra, Monaco, San Maríno and the Vatican City, which currently do not have separate coins, from introducing them,

4. whether it will ensure that "national" designs on coins do not offend other Member States,

5. whether it will take steps to ensure that all coins must be freely accepted for payment throughout the EU?

Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission

(4 February 1999)

Given the decision that euro coins will have a national side and a common side, the choice of the design of the national side is the competence of the Member States. Currently, ten of the eleven participating Member States have made public their set of coins. Member States are aware of the risks of confusion for the citizens and do not intend to issue several sets of coins at the same time. This is confirmed by the agreement between ministers on the occasion of the Ecofin Council meeting of 23 November 1998 that there should be a moratorium on issues of commemorative coins intended for circulation in the early years of the new notes and coins.

Member States are in principle free to choose the design of the national faces of the euro coins. Nevertheless, Member States have to respect the principles of the EC Treaty and in particular Article 5 § 2 which stipulates that Member States shall abstain from any measure which could jeopardise the attainment of the objectives of the EC Treaty.

In forthcoming negotiations between the Community and Monaco, San Maríno and Vatican City the Commission will take account of concerns to prevent confusion of the citizens in the Community, and to facilitate, in accordance with Declaration No 6, renegotiations of existing monetary arrangements with these countries which at present issue French franc or lira coins with a national symbol. Andorra has no formal monetary arrangement with another country.

The Commission will watch the choices of Member States for the national side of their coins. All indications suggest that Member States are aware of their responsibility of preventing offending designs on their coins.

Concerning the acceptance of the coins throughout the whole euro area, Council Regulation (EC) 974/98 of 3 May 1998 on the introduction of the euro(1) (Article 15) ensures that euro coins intended for circulation issued by each participating Member State will have the status of legal tender as of 1 January 2002 in all the participating Member States independently of their design.

Their acceptance in practice will also be facilitated by appropriate information campaigns.

(1) OJ L 139, 11.5.1998.