WRITTEN QUESTION E-1426/02 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission. Use of the euro.
Date: 2002-05-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Holy See, Monaco, euro, issuing of currency, monetary agreement

C 92 E/56

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

17.4.2003

It should be noted that on the basis of the mandate of the European Council of Barcelona of 14 March
2002, the EIB is currently proceeding with the preparation of a Euro-Mediterranean Investment Facility.
According to the mandate, this Facility will be complemented with the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership
arrangement and an EIB representative office located in the area. It will enhance the Bank’s current
activities in the region and particularly focus on private sector development, which is recognised as a
priority. It was also decided in Barcelona that a decision on whether to incorporate the newly created
facility in an EIB majority owned subsidiary will be considered one year after the launching of the new
facility, on the basis of its performance. The latest Ecofin meeting of 4 June 2002 has called for the facility
to be launched before the end of autumn 2002.

(2003/C 92 E/057)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1426/02

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(23 May 2002)

Subject: Use of the euro

Which countries outside of the twelve have been authorised to issue euro coins, and what procedure is
necessary for such authorisation?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 2002)

In addition to the twelve participating Member States, three countries not belonging to the Union have
been authorised to issue euro coins: the Principality of Monaco, the Republic of San Maríno and the
Vatican City.

This stems from the Maastricht negotiations where it was agreed (Declaration No 6 annexed to the Treaty)
‘… that the monetary relations between Italy and San Maríno and the Vatican City and between France and
the Principality of Monaco remained unaffected by the Treaty establishing the EC …. The Community
undertakes to facilitate the renegotiations of the existing arrangements as might become necessary …’.
On 31 December 1998 the Council granted a mandate to France and Italy respectively to negotiate on
behalf of the Community (Council Decisions 1999/96/EC, 1999/97/EC, 1999/98/EC of 31 December
1998 on the position to be taken by the Community regarding an agreement concerning the monetary
relations with the Principality of Monaco, the Republic of San Maríno and Vatican City (1)). In 2001
monetary agreements were concluded by the Italian Republic, on behalf of the Community, with the
Republic of San Maríno (2) as well as with the Vatican City and, on its behalf the Holy See (3). The same
year, a similar monetary agreement was reached between the Government of the French Republic, on
behalf of the Community, and the Government of His Serene Highness the Prince of Monaco (4). All three
agreements provide for the issue of limited quantities of euro coins by the States concerned.

(1) OJ L 30, 4.2.1999.
(2) OJ C 209, 27.7.2001.
(3) OJ C 299, 25.10.2001.
(4) OJ L 142, 31.5.2002.

(2003/C 92 E/058)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1435/02

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council

Subject: The return of state terror in Guatemala

(23 May 2002)

Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchú today had to go back to Guatemala, where she is the object of
death threats, to attend the funeral of her co-worker Guillermo Ovalle, murdered by repressive paramilitary
forces (cid:1) protected or tolerated by the government (cid:1) which do not respect the peace agreements, and