Proposal for a Council Regulation concerning medals and tokens similar to euro coins
Date: 2004-01-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: European symbol, consumer protection, euro, paper money, technical specification

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 27.1.2004 
COM(2004) 39 final 

2004/0010 (CNS) 
2004/0011 (CNS) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL REGULATION  

concerning medals and tokens similar to euro coins 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL REGULATION 

extending the application of Regulation (EC) No….. concerning medals and tokens 
similar to the euro coins to the non-participating Member States 

(presented by the Commission) 

EN 

   EN 

 
 
 
  
 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

1. 

BACKGROUND 

The proposed legislation intends to regulate the use of the terms “euro” and “euro cent” and 
of the euro symbol (€) on metallic objects having the appearance and/or technical properties 
of coins (medals and tokens) and to define the levels of similarity to the euro coins that should 
be  banned  for  medals  and  tokens.  The  purpose  is  to  protect  the  public  against  fraud  and 
confusion related to the euro coins, while at the same time establishing a level playing field 
for the production of such medals and tokens.  

In  particular,  the  relevant  risk  to  the  public  is  twofold.  Firstly,  citizens  could  believe  that 
metallic objects (medals and tokens) have legal tender status if they show the text appearing 
on the euro coins or use the euro symbol. Secondly, medals or tokens could fraudulently be 
used in coin operated machines, if their size and metal properties are close to the ones of the 
euro coins. 

The circulation of the euro coins in a large number of Member States makes it necessary to 
have  a  set  of  rules  respected  by  all  participants.  A  number  of  measures  which  have  already 
been  taken  at  Community  level,  have  not  proven  to  be  sufficient  to  effectively  prevent  the 
appearance of euro coin-like objects, which entered into circulation.  

In  particular,  prior  to  the  introduction  of  the  euro  coins,  the  Community  assigned  to  the 
competent authorities of the Member States the rights it held entitling it to claim copyright as 
regards the designs of the common face of the euro coins1. As a result, national law is now 
applicable to the copyright protection, on the basis of a common set of rules. These rules are 
mandatory  and  i.a.  forbid  the  reproduction  of  the  designs  on  medals  and  tokens  made  in 
metal. As these rules only refer to the designs themselves, Member States have not been able 
to use them to ban medals and tokens with a design similar to the one of the euro coins. 

Commission Recommendation of  19 August  2002 on medals and tokens similar  to  the  euro 
coins2 aims at protecting against the use on medals and tokens of the terms “euro” and “euro 
cent”,  as  well  as  of  the  euro  symbol3.  Apart  from  the  fact  that  the  Recommendation  only 
covered  visual  aspects,  it  was  not  generally  transposed  into  national  law,  as  Member  States 
expressed preference for binding Community legislation. In itself, while the Recommendation 
constituted  a  useful  guide,  it  proved  to  be  less  than  fully  effective.  On  the  whole,  national 
rules concerning medals and tokens are rare and mostly of a general nature. Finally, practice 
since the euro coins were introduced showed that, in addition to visual characteristics, it was 
necessary to establish the mandatory rules concerning technical properties as included in the 
proposed legislation. 

1 

2 
3 

Communication from the Commission on copyright protection of the common face design of the euro 
coins. OJ C 318, 13.11.2001, p. 3, COM(2001) 600 final. 
OJ L 225, 22.8.2002, p.34. 
This  Recommendation  renewed  a  similar  Commission  Recommendation  of  13  January  1999, 
concerning collector coins, medals and tokens, OJ L 20, 27.1.1999, p. 61. 

2 

 
 
  
 
                                                 
A  rising  number  of  incidents  involving  medals  closely  similar  to  the  euro  coins  has 
demonstrated  the  need  for  stricter  and  binding  measures,  aimed  at  creating  a  level  playing 
field  throughout  the  Community  with  regard  to  medals  and  tokens.  Such  incidents  concern, 
for  example,  cases  of  euro  coin-like  medals,  one  of  which  came  into  circulation  instead  of 
euro coins, as well as cases of coin like objects fraudulently used in coin operated machines.  

The  Economic  and  Financial  Committee’s  Euro  Coin  Sub-committee  and  the  EU  Mint 
Directors  have  considered  these  incidents  and  concluded  that  a  mandatory  legal  instrument 
regarding medals and tokens is necessary to cope with such cases. The present proposal takes 
into consideration the comments offered during these discussions. 

In addition, the issue has been discussed extensively with representatives of the coin operated 
industry,  in  the  framework  of  its  regular  meetings  with  the  Commission  and  the  EU  Mint 
Directors. The coin operated industry is strongly in favour of a regulatory framework such as 
the  one  proposed,  since  this  could  reduce  the  cost  that  is  caused  by  fraud  in  vending 
machines. Finally, account was taken, in the proposed Regulation, of the comments offered by 
token manufacturers. 

2. 

THE PROPOSED COUNCIL REGULATION 

Article 1 provides definitions in line with formal Community texts, where such definitions are 
available.  The  definition  of  medals  and  tokens  is  in  line  with  the  one  included  in  the 
Commission Recommendation of 19 August 2002. With regard to medals and tokens made of 
gold,  silver  and  platinum,  in  the  absence  of  European  legislation  on  the  content  in  precious 
metal  and  hallmarking  of  articles,  the  levels  proposed  for  the  exclusive  purpose  of  this 
Regulation  are  based  on  minimum  standards  among  Member  States.  The  organisational 
structure of the European Technical and Scientific Centre (ETSC), which is already operating, 
will  be  consolidated  through  a  Council  decision  for  which  the  Commission  has  submitted  a 
proposal (COM(2003) 426 of 17.7.2003). The national designated authorities mentioned are 
the ones who are responsible for issuing coins in Member States (Annex II). Since a number 
of requests concerning euro-like medals come from countries outside the EU, it is proposed 
that the Commission should be the designated authority in such cases. Finally, the reference 
band  for  the  size  of  medals  and  tokens  is  fundamental  for  the  proposed  Regulation.  The 
reference band defines a set of combinations between values for diameter and values for edge 
height, within which the size of a medal or token is considered to be similar to the one of the 
euro coins. 

Article 2 sets out the restrictions on medals and tokens. In particular, paragraph (a) prohibits 
the  use  of  the  terms  “euro”  or  “euro  cent”  or  the  euro  symbol  (defined  in  Annex  I)  on  the 
surface of medals and tokens, since these may lead to the wrong impression that these have 
legal tender status4. Paragraph (b) prohibits medals and tokens which are of a size similar to 
the euro coins, i.e. inside the reference band. The prohibition is for designs that are “similar” 
since  the  designs  in  themselves  are  protected  by  national  provisions.  Finally,  paragraph  (c) 
protects  the  edge  design  of  the  2-euro  coins.  The  designs  of  the  common  and  the  national 
sides  of  the  euro  coins,  as  well  as  the  edge  designs,  are  described  in  the  Commission’s 
publication in December 20015. 

4 
5 

This provision is similar to the one in Commission Recommendation of 19 August 2002. 
OJ C 373, 28.12.2001. 

3 

 
 
  
 
                                                 
Article  3  describes  automatic  exemptions  to  the  rules.  In  particular,  paragraph  1  allows  the 
terms “euro” and “euro cent” or the euro symbol, without an associated nominal value, to be 
used  on  medals  tokens  which  are  very  different  in  size  compared  to  the  euro  coins  (i.e.  are 
outside the reference band). Paragraph 2 of Article 3 introduces an exemption from the size 
restriction (under Article 2(1)b) for medals and tokens with a large hole in the centre and have 
different metal properties; or which are made of gold or silver or platinum. 

Article 4(1) provides for the possibility that the designated authorities may authorise specific 
derogations with respect to the visual characteristics (Article 2(a)) under specific conditions. 
Such conditions refer mainly to cases where the use of the terms euro, euro cent or the euro 
symbol is practical. Typical for this case are the casinos, where tokens bearing a face value in 
euro are sold the equivalent in euro, at face value. In some cases such tokens are convenient 
for the functioning of these companies. In order to limit the possibility of abuse, the origin of 
the  authorised  medal  or  token  must  be  clearly  identifiable  and  the  indication  “Not  legal 
tender” must be stamped on the medal or token. 

Article  4(2)  provides  for  the  possibility  to  authorise  derogations  from  the  size  restrictions 
(Article 2(b)) under two cumulative conditions: (i) the size of the medals and tokens, although 
inside the reference band, should not be in the immediate vicinity of the euro coins; and (ii) 
the  metal  properties  should  be  sufficiently  different  from  the  ones  of  the  euro  coins.  As  a 
result, medals and tokens with such derogation could not normally be used instead of the euro 
coins  in  coin  operated  machines.  An  important  element  of  Article  4(2)  is  that  it  provides 
flexibility as to the application in line with national rules and practices, as long as the strict 
minimal  conditions  are  respected.  In  particular,  countries  with  a  tradition  of  not  authorising 
medals  and  tokens  inside  the  reference  band  may  continue  to  do  so,  although  some  cross 
border  effects  may  occur.  Others  may  continue  to  provide  authorisations,  under  the  above-
mentioned conditions. 

Article  4(3)  establishes  the  competence  of  the  designated  authorities  to  declare  whether  the 
degree of similarity, referred to in Article 2(c), is acceptable. 

In order to visually illustrate the technical concepts, Annex III includes a section showing an 
indicative graphical representation of the reference band and the related definitions. 

With a view to achieving some degree of harmonisation in the interpretation of the Regulation 
for Member States to grant derogations, a mechanism is proposed in Article 5(1) whereby all 
derogations  are  communicated  to  the  ETSC.  The  ETSC  compiles  a  list  that  Member  States 
can consult and, where appropriate, prepares reports. In addition, it was considered necessary 
to avoid upsetting the functioning of companies which use such tokens as part of their activity 
(for example casinos). For that purpose it is proposed in Article 5(2) that medals and tokens 
not observing the rules but existing at the time of entry into force of this Regulation should 
only be replaced when they reach the end of their life-time, at the latest by the end of 2012. 
These  tokens  should  be  recorded  according  to  the  applicable  national  procedures  and 
communicated to the ETSC. In some cases, such recording will not be necessary, as medals 
and tokens similar to euro coins do not exist, as a result of national legislation or practice. 

4 

 
 
  
 
Article 6 requires that Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure the proper 
implementation  of  the  proposed  Regulation,  through  appropriate  sanctions  to  be  adopted  by 
January 2005 and communicated to the Commission. 

Article  7  limits  the  applicability  of  the  Regulation  to  the  participating  Member  States, 
reflecting the legal basis used, i.e. Article 123(4) TEC. As was the case, i.a. with Regulation 
1338/2001, a second Regulation, based on Treaty Article 308 should extend the effects of the 
proposed Regulation to the non participating Member States. 

5 

 
 
  
 
2004/0010 (CNS) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL REGULATION  

concerning medals and tokens similar to euro coins 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the third 
sentence of Article 123(4) thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission6, 

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament7, 

Having regard to the opinion of the European Central Bank8, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

On 1 January  1999,  the  euro  became the legal currency of the participating  Member 
States in accordance with the requirements of Council Regulation (EC) No 974/1998 
of  3  May  1998  on  the  introduction  of  the  euro9  and  of  third  countries  which  have 
concluded  an  agreement  with  the  European  Community  on  the  introduction  of  the 
euro, namely Monaco, San Marino, and the Vatican City.  

Council Regulation (EC) No 975/1998 of 3 May 1998 on denominations and technical 
specifications of euro coins intended for circulation10 has defined the basic features of 
euro  coins.  Euro  coins,  following  their  introduction  in  January  2002,  circulate 
throughout the euro area as sole legal tender in metallic form. 

Commission  Recommendation  2002/664/EC  of  19  August  2002  concerning  medals 
and  tokens  similar  to  the  euro  coins11  has  recommended  that  certain  visual 
characteristics should be avoided in the sale and production, stocking, importation and 
distribution,  for  sale  or  for  other  commercial  purposes,  of  medals  and  tokens  whose 
size is close to that of euro coins. 

6 
7 
8 
9 
10 

11 

OJ C , , p. . 
OJ C , , p. . 
OJ C , , p. . 
OJ L 139, 11.5.1998, p. 1. 
OJ  L  139,  11.5.1998,  p.  6.  Regulation  as  last  amended  by  Regulation  (EC)  No  423/1999 
(OJ L 52, 27.2.1999, p. 2). 
OJ L 225, 22.8.2002, p. 34. 

6 

 
 
  
 
                                                 
(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

(9) 

The  Communication  from  the  Commission  of  23  July  1997  on  the  use  of  the  euro 
symbol12 has established the symbol (€) and called upon all currency users to use the 
symbol for the description of monetary amounts denominated in euro. 

The  Communication  from  the  Commission  of  13  November  2001  on  copyright 
protection of the common face design of the euro coins13 has defined the arrangements 
to be applied for the reproduction of the common face design of euro coins. 

The  visual  characteristics  of  euro  coins  were  published  by  the  Commission  on  28 
December 200114. 

Citizens  may  be  led  to  believe  that  medals  and  tokens  bearing  the  terms  “euro”  or 
“euro cent”, the euro symbol, or a design similar to that which appears on the common 
face or on any of the national sides of the euro coins, have legal-tender status in any of 
the Member States that have adopted the euro, or in a participating third country. 

There is an increasing risk that medals and tokens having a size and metal properties 
similar to euro coins may be unlawfully used in the place of euro coins. 

It is therefore appropriate that medals and tokens having visual characteristics, size or 
metal  properties  which  are  similar  to  euro  coins  should  not  be  sold,  produced, 
imported or distributed for the purpose of sale or for commercial purposes. 

(10)  With a view to facilitating a harmonisation of the decisions of the designated national 
authorities, the European Technical and Scientific Centre, based on communication by 
the  Member  States,  should  compile  a  register  or  medals  and  tokens  similar  to  euro 
coins and prepare appropriate reports. 

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:  

Article 1 

Definitions 

For the purposes of this Regulation the following definitions shall apply: 

(a) 

“euro” means the legal currency of participating Member States as defined in 
Article  1  of  Regulation  (EC)  No  974/98  and  of  those  participating  third 
countries which have concluded an agreement with the European Community 
on  the  introduction  of  the  euro,  hereinafter  referred  to  as  ‘participating  third 
countries’; 

(b) 

“euro  symbol”  means  the  symbol  representing  the  euro  (€)  as  shown  and 
described in Annex I; 

12 
13 
14 

COM(1997) 418 of 23 July 1997. 
OJ C 318, 13.11.2001, p. 3, COM(2001) 600 final. 
OJ C 373, 28.12.2001. 

7 

 
 
  
 
                                                 
(c) 

(d) 

(e) 

(f) 

“medals and tokens” means those metallic objects, other than blanks intended 
for striking coins, which have the appearance and/or technical properties of a 
coin but are not issued under national or participating third country legislative 
provisions  or  other  foreign  legislative  provisions,  and  which  therefore  are 
neither a legal means of payment nor legal tender; 

“gold”,  “silver”  and  “platinum”  mean  alloys  containing  gold,  silver  and 
platinum  with  a  millesimal  fineness  in  weight  of  at  least  375,  500  and  850 
respectively.  This  definition  shall  not  concern  hallmarking  conventions 
applicable in Member States; 

“European  Technical  and  Scientific  Centre”  (hereinafter  referred  to  as 
“ETSC”) means the entity established by Commission Decision […]; 

“designated  authorities”  responsible  at  national  level  for  medals  and  tokens 
means  those  authorities  listed  in  Annex II,  or,  in  cases  outside  the  European 
Union, the Commission itself; 

(g) 

“reference band” shall have the meaning given to it in Section 1 of Annex III. 

Article 2 

Protective provisions 

Subject  to  Articles  3  and  4,  the  production  and  sale  of  medals  and  tokens,  and  their 
importation and distribution for sale or for other commercial purposes, shall be prohibited in 
the following circumstances: 

(a)  when  the  terms  “euro”  or  “euro  cent”  or  the  euro  symbol  appear  on  their 

surface; or 

(b)  when their size is inside the reference band; or 

(c)  when  any  design  appearing  on  the  surface  of  medals  and  tokens  is  similar  to 
any  of  the  national  obverse  designs  or  to  the  common  reverse  face  of  euro 
coins, or being identical or similar to the edge design of the 2-euro coin.  

Article 3 

Exemptions 

1. 

Medals  and  tokens  bearing  the  terms  “euro”  or  “euro  cent”  or  the  euro  symbol 
without an associated nominal value are not prohibited when their size is outside the 
reference band. 

8 

 
 
  
 
2. 

Medals  and  tokens  whose  size  is  inside  the  reference  band  shall  not  be  prohibited 
when: 

(a) 

they are pierced with a hole of over 6 millimetres in the centre, or when their 
shape is polygonal but not exceeding six edges, provided the condition under 
Article 4(2)(b) is respected; or 

(b) 

they are made of gold or silver or platinum. 

Article 4 

Derogations by authorisation 

1. 

2. 

3. 

1. 

The designated authority in the Member State where a medal or token is produced or 
first imported, or the Commission in the case of requests from third countries, may 
grant specific authorisations to use the terms “euro” or “euro cent” under controlled 
conditions of utilisation in cases where no risk of confusion exists. In such cases, the 
economic operator concerned within a Member State shall be clearly identifiable on 
the  surface  of  the  medal  or  token  and  the  indication  “Not  legal  tender”  must  be 
stamped on the obverse or the reverse of the medal or token. 

The designated authority in the Member State where the medal or token is produced 
or first imported, or the Commission in the case of requests from third countries, may 
grant specific authorisations for medals and tokens whose size is inside the reference 
band,  in  cases  where  no  risk  of  confusion  exists,  provided  that  the  following 
conditions are met: 

(a) 

(b) 

the  combinations  of  diameter  and  edge  height  of  medals  and  tokens  must  be 
consistently outside the ranges defined in each of the cases specified in Section 
2 of Annex III ; and 

the combinations of diameter and metal properties of medals and tokens must 
be  consistently  outside  the  ranges  defined  in  each  of  the  cases  specified  in 
Section 3 of Annex III. 

The designated authority in the Member State where a medal or token is produced or 
first  imported,  or  the  Commission  in  the  case  of  requests  from  third  countries,  is 
competent to declare whether a design is “similar” within the meaning of Article 2 
paragraph (c). 

Article 5 

Communication and recording 

The  competent  authorities  in  the  Member  States  shall  communicate  to  the  ETSC 
each of the authorisations provided for under Article 4; the ETSC shall record them 
in a register for medals and tokens. The register shall be available for consultation by 
the designated authorities of the Member States. 

9 

 
 
  
 
2. 

1. 

2. 

Medals and tokens issued prior to the entry into force of this Regulation which do not 
satisfy the conditions set out in Articles 2, 3 and 4 may continue to be used until the 
end  of  the  year  2012,  at  the  latest.  Those  medals  and  tokens  shall  be  recorded,  if 
appropriate,  according  to  the  procedures  applicable  in  the  Member  States  and 
communicated to the ETSC. 

Article 6 

Sanctions 

Member States shall lay down the rules on  penalties applicable to infringements of 
the provisions of this Regulation and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that 
they  are  implemented.  The  penalties  provided  for  must  be  effective,  proportionate 
and dissuasive. 

Member  States  shall  adopt  by  1  January  2005  the  laws,  regulations  and 
administrative  provisions  for  applying  this  Article.  They  shall  forthwith  inform  the 
Commission thereof. 

Article 7 

Applicability 

This Regulation shall have effect in the participating Member States as defined in Regulation 
(EC) No 974/98. 

Article 8 

Entry into force 

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of 
the European Union. 

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in the Member States in 
accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community. 

Done at Brussels, […] 

For the Council 
The President 

10 

 
 
  
 
 
 
ANNEX I 

APPEARANCE OF THE EURO SYMBOL AS MENTIONED IN ARTICLE 1 

11 

 
 
  
 
 
 
ANNEX II 

LIST OF DESIGNATED AUTHORITIES AS MENTIONED IN ARTICLE 1  

BELGIUM: Ministère des Finances - Administration de la Trésorerie (Ministry of Finance- 

Treasury Administration) 

DENMARK: Danmarks Nationalbank 

GERMANY: Bundesministerium der Finanzen (Federal Ministry of Finance) 

GREECE:  Υπουργείο  Εθνικής  Οικονοµίας  και  Οικονοµικών  –  Γενικό  Λογιστήριο  του 
Κράτους  (Ministry  of  National  Economy  and  Finance  –  State  Accounts 
Department) 

SPAIN:  Dirección  General  del  Tesoro  y  Política  Financiera  (Directorate-General  of  the 

Treasury and Financial Policy) 

FRANCE: Direction des Monnaies et médailles – Ministère de l'Economie des Finances et 
de l'Industrie de la République Française (Mint and Medals Directorate – Ministry 
of Economic and Financial Affairs and Industry) 

IRELAND: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland 

ITALY:  Ministero  dell'Economia  e  delle  Finanze  (Ministry  of  Economic  and  Financial 

Affairs) 

LUXEMBOURG: Ministère de Finances – Service de la Trésorerie (Ministry of Finance – 

Treasury Department) 

NETHERLANDS: Ministerie van Financiën – Direktie Binnenlands Geldwezen (Ministry 

of Finance – Domestic Monetary and Financial Affairs Directorate) 

AUSTRIA: Münze Österreich AG (Austrian Mint) 

PORTUGAL: Imprensa Nacional – Casa da Moeda (National Printing Office – Mint) 

FINLAND: Valtiovarainministeriö (Ministry of Finance) 

SWEDEN: Sveriges Riksbank – Avdelningen för Marknadsoperationer (MOP) 

UNITED KINGDOM: HM Treasury 

12 

 
 
  
 
 
ANNEX III 

1. 

DEFINITION OF THE REFERENCE BAND REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 1 

(a)  The reference band for the size of medals and tokens is the set of combinations 
between  the  values  for  diameter  and  values  for  edge  height  included  in  the 
reference  range  for  diameter  and  the  reference  range  for  edge  height 
respectively.  

(b)  Reference range for diameter is the one between 19.00 millimetres and 28.00 

millimetres. 

(c)  Reference  range  for  edge  height  is  the  one  included  between  7.00 %  and 

12.00 % of each value within the reference range for diameter. 

2. 

RANGES REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 4(2)(a) 

Defined ranges 

Diameter 

Edge height 

(mm) 

(mm) 

19.55 - 19.95 

1.73 - 2.13 

22.05 - 22.45 

1.94 - 2.34 

23.05 - 23.45 

2.13 - 2.53 

24.05 - 24.45 

2.18 - 2.58 

25.55 - 25.95 

2.00 - 2.40 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

13 

 
 
  
 
3. 

RANGES REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 4(2)(b) 

Diameter (mm) 

Metal properties 

1. 

2. 

19.00 – 22.04 

Electrical conductivity between 14.00 and 18.00 % IACS 

22.05 – 24.45 

Electrical conductivity between: 

- 14.00 and 18.00 % IACS; or 

- 4,54.50 and 6.50 % IACS, unless the medal or token is 
mono-metallic  and  its  magnetic  moment  is  outside  the 
range from 1.0 to 7.0 µVs.cm 

3. 

24.46 – 25.95 

Electrical conductivity between: 

- 15.00 and 18.00 % IACS; or 

- 13.00 and 15.00 % IACS, unless the medal or token is mono-
metallic and its magnetic moment is outside the range from 1.0 to 
7.0 µVs.cm 

4. 

25.96 – 28.00 

Electrical conductivity between 13.00 and 15.00 % IACS, unless 
the medal or token is mono-metallic and its magnetic moment is 
outside the range from 1.0 to 7.0 µVs.cm 

4. 

GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION 

The following graph provides an indicative illustration of definitions in this annex: 

Di ameter and edge  height
(ranges for metal properties betw een vertical lines)

(mm)

12%line

1 0   c

1 €

5 0   c

2 0   c

2   €

7% line

t
h
g

i

e
h

e
g
d
E

3 ,4 0
3 ,2 0
3 ,0 0

2 ,8 0

2 ,6 0
2 ,4 0

2 ,2 0
2 ,0 0

1,8 0

1,6 0

1,4 0
1,2 0

1,0 0

Dia me ter

14 

 
 
  
 
 
 
FINANCIAL IMPACT 

No financial impact on the Community budget. 

15 

 
 
  
 
2004/0011 (CNS) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL REGULATION 

extending the application of Regulation (EC) No….. concerning medals and tokens 
similar to the euro coins to the non-participating Member States 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 
308 thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission15, 

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament16, 

Whereas: 

(1)  When adopting Regulation (EC) No17 the Council indicated that it should apply in the 
participating  Member  States  as  defined  in  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  974/98  of  3 
May 1998 on the introduction of the euro18, 

(2) 

However,  it  is  important  that  the  rules  concerning  medals  and  tokens  similar  to  the 
euro coins should be uniform throughout the Community, and the requisite provisions 
should be taken to that end, 

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:  

The application of Regulation (EC) No […] shall be extended to Member States other than the 
participating Member States as defined in Regulation (EC) No 974/98. 

Article 1 

15 
16 
17 
18 

OJ C , , p. . 
OJ C , , p. . 
See page [x] of this Official Journal. 
OJ L 139, 11.5.1998, p. 1. 

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This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of 
the European Union. 

Article 2 

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. 

Done at Brussels, […] 

For the Council 
The President 

17