Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins intended for circulation (recast)
Date: 2013-04-11
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: euro, issuing of currency, money, technical specification













EUR-Lex - 52013PC0184 - EN











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52013PC0184

Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins intended for circulation (recast) /* COM/2013/0184 final - 2013/0096 (NLE) */









EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
1.           On 1 April 1987 the Commission
decided[1]
to instruct its staff that all acts should be codified after no more
than ten amendments, stressing that this is a minimum requirement and that
departments should endeavour to codify at even shorter intervals the texts for
which they are responsible, to ensure that their provisions are clear and
readily understandable.
2.           The codification of Council
Regulation (EC) No 975/98 of 3 May 1998 on denominations and
technical specifications of euro coins intended for circulation[2] has been initiated by
the Commission, and a relevant proposal has been submitted to the legislative
authority[3].
The new Regulation was to have superseded the various acts incorporated in it[4].
3.           In the course of the legislative
procedure, in its opinion regarding the codification proposal[5] the European Central
Bank (ECB) recommended that certain
changes be introduced with regard to the technical specifications set out in the
table contained in Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 975/98 as well as in Annex
I to the draft codified text. Since the proposed redrafting for that Annex would imply certain substantive amendments, and would
therefore go beyond straightforward codification, it was considered necessary
that point 8[6] of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 20 December 1994 – Accelerated working
method for official codification of legislative texts[7] – be applied, in the light of the Joint
declaration on that point[8].
4.           The amendment to be made to the
table contained in Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 975/98 consists of a replacement of all existing values relating to
the thickness of coins with new values. In that table, the thickness of the
coins is indicated in the third column, with a footnote mentioning that the
values relating to thickness are of an indicative nature. As was pointed out in
the abovementioned opinion of the ECB, while those indicative values may have
been the only values that could be laid down in 1998 when the technical
specifications of euro coins intended for circulation were adopted for the
first time, it is now considered appropriate that such indicative values be
replaced by the real thickness values of euro coins, which are well known and
used as reference value by the mints to produce the coins. As a consequence of
that change, recital 13 of
Regulation (EC) No 975/98, which contains a statement
regarding the indicative nature of the existing thickness values, should be
deleted.
5.           It is therefore appropriate to
transform the codification of Regulation (EC) No 975/98 into
a recast in order to incorporate the necessary amendments.
ê 975/98
(adapted)
2013/0096 (NLE)
Proposal for a
COUNCIL REGULATION
on denominations and technical
specifications of euro coins intended for circulation
(recast)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the
Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article Ö 128(2) Õ thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the
European Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the
European Parliament[9],
Having regard to the opinion of the
European Central Bank[10],
Whereas:
ò new
(1)       Council
Regulation (EC) No 975/98 of 3 May 1998 on denominations and technical
specifications of euro coins intended for circulation[11] has
been substantially amended several times[12]. Since further amendments are to
be made, it should be recast in
the interests of clarity.
ê 975/98 recital
2 (adapted)
(2)       According to Article Ö 128(2) Õ of the Treaty,
Member States may issue euro coins subject to approval by the European Central
Bank (ECB) of the volume of the issue. The Council Ö , on a
proposal from the Commission and after consulting the European Parliament
and the ECB, Õ may adopt
measures to harmonise the denominations and technical specifications of all
coins intended for circulation to the extent necessary to permit their smooth
circulation within the Ö Union Õ.
ê 975/98
recital 3 (adapted)
(3)       Euro banknotes range from
5 to 500 Ö euro Õ. The
denominations of banknotes and coins need to allow for cash payments of amounts
expressed in euro and cent to be made easily.
ê 975/98
recital 5 (adapted)
(4)       The single coinage system Ö of the Union Õ should induce
public confidence and entail technological innovations Ö which
ensure that Õ it Ö is Õ a secure,
reliable and efficient system.
ê 975/98
recital 6 (adapted)
(5)       The acceptance of the
system by the public is one of the main objectives of the coinage system Ö of the
Union Õ. Public
confidence in the system Ö depends Õ on the
physical characteristics of the euro coins, which should be as user-friendly as
possible.
ê 975/98
recital 7 (adapted)
(6)       Consultations with
consumer associations, the European Blind Union and representatives of the
vending machines industry Ö were Õ carried out to
take into account the specific requirements of important categories of coin
users. In order to ensure a smooth changeover to the euro and to facilitate
acceptance of the coinage system by users, easy distinction between coins
through visual and tactile characteristics Ö needed Õ to be
guaranteed.
ê 975/98
recital 8 (adapted)
(7)       The euro coins Ö are Õ more readily
distinguishable and easier to become accustomed to Ö because
of the Õ link between
their diameter and face value.
ê 975/98
recital 9 (adapted)
(8)       Certain special security
features are needed in order to reduce the scope for fraud for the 1 and 2 euro
Ö coins Õ given their
high value. The use of a technique whereby coins are made in three layers and
the combination of two different colours in the coin are considered to be the
most efficient security features available.
ê 975/98
recital 11 (adapted)
(9)       European Parliament and
Council Directive 94/27/EC of 30 June 1994 amending for the 12th time Directive
76/769/EEC on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative
provisions of the Member States relating to restrictions on the marketing
and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations[13] Ö limits Õ the use of
nickel in certain products in recognition that nickel could cause allergies
under certain conditions. Coins are not covered by that Directive. It seems
desirable to reduce the nickel content of coins Ö for
reasons of public health Õ.
ê 975/98 recital
13
Of all prescribed technical specifications for euro
coins, only the value for thickness is of an indicative nature since the actual
thickness of a coin depends on prescribed diameter and weight,
ê 975/98
recital 10 (adapted) and 566/2012 recital 3 (adapted) 
(10)     Giving the coins one Ö common Õ European and Ö a
distinctive Õ national side
is an appropriate expression of the idea of European monetary union between
Member States. The common European sides of euro coins bear both the name of
the single currency and the denomination of the coin. The national side should
neither repeat the name of the single currency nor the denomination of the
coin.
ê 566/2012
recital 4
(11)     A clear indication of the
name of the issuing Member State should be put on the national side of the coin
in order to allow interested coin users to easily identify the issuing Member State.
ê 566/2012
recital 5
(12)     The edge lettering of euro
coins should be considered part of the national side and should therefore not
repeat any indication of the denomination, except for the 2-euro coin, and
provided that only the figure ‘2’ or the term ‘euro’ in the relevant alphabet,
or both, are used.
ê 566/2012
recital 6
(13)     The designs on the national
side of euro coins are decided upon by each Member State whose currency is the
euro and should take into account the fact that euro coins circulate in the
whole euro area and not only in the issuing Member State. In order to ensure
that coins are immediately recognisable as euro coins also from their national
side, the design should be fully surrounded by the 12 stars of the Union flag.
ê 566/2012
recital 7
(14)     In order to facilitate the
recognition of circulation coins and to ensure appropriate continuity in the
minting, Member States should only be allowed to modify the designs used for
the national sides of regular circulation coins once every 15 years,
except if the Head of State referred to on a coin changes. This should,
however, be without prejudice to changes necessary to prevent counterfeiting of
the currency. Changes to the design of the common European side of circulation
coins should be decided by the Council and voting rights should be restricted
to Member States whose currency is the euro.
ê 566/2012
recital 8
(15)     Individual Member States
should be allowed to issue commemorative coins to celebrate subjects of major
national or European relevance, whereas commemorative coins issued collectively
by all Member States whose currency is the euro should be reserved for subjects
of the highest European relevance. The 2-euro coin constitutes the most
suitable denomination for this purpose, principally on account of the large
diameter of the coin and its technical characteristics, which offer adequate
protection against counterfeiting.
ê 566/2012
recital 9
(16)     Taking into account that
euro coins circulate in the whole euro area, to avoid the use of inappropriate
designs, issuing Member States should inform each other and the Commission
about draft designs for the national side of euro coins in advance of the
planned issue date. The Commission should verify the compliance of the designs with
the technical requirements of this Regulation. Submission of draft designs to
the Commission should be made sufficiently in advance of the planned issue date
for issuing Member States to modify the design if necessary.
ê 566/2012
recital 10
(17)     Furthermore, uniform
conditions for the approval of the designs of the national sides of euro coins
should be laid down to avoid the choice of designs which could be considered as
inappropriate in some Member States. In view of the fact that the competence
for an issue as sensitive as the design of the national sides of the euro coins
belongs to the issuing Member States, implementing powers should be conferred
on the Council. Any implementing decisions taken on this basis by the Council
would be closely connected to the acts adopted by the Council on the basis of
Article 128(2) of the Treaty. Therefore, the suspension of the voting
rights of the members of the Council representing Member States whose currency
is not the euro for the adoption by the Council of those decisions should apply
as set out in Article 139(4) of the Treaty. The procedure should allow the
issuing Member States to modify the design in due time if so required,
ê 975/98
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
ê 975/98
(adapted)
Article 1
The series of euro coins Ö shall Õ include eight
denominations in the range from 1 cent to 2 euro Ö which
shall meet the technical specifications set out in Annex I. Õ
ê 566/2012
Art. 1
Article 2
For the purposes of this Regulation, the
following definitions shall apply:
(1)          “circulation coins” means euro
coins intended for circulation, the denominations and technical specifications
of which are referred to in Article 1;
(2)          “regular coins” means circulation
coins excluding commemorative coins;
(3)          “commemorative coins” means
circulation coins which are intended to commemorate a specific subject as
specified in Article 9.
Article 3
Circulation coins shall have a common
European side and a distinctive national side.
Article 4
1. The national side of circulation coins
shall not repeat any indication of the denomination, or any parts thereof, of
the coin. It shall not repeat the name of the single currency or of its
subdivision, unless such indication stems from the use of a different alphabet.
2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1,
the edge lettering of the 2-euro coin may include an indication of the
denomination, provided that only the figure “2” or the term “euro” in the
relevant alphabet, or both, are used.
Article 5
The national side of all denominations of
circulation coins shall bear an indication of the issuing Member State by means of the Member State’s name or an abbreviation of it.
Article 6
1. The national side of circulation coins
shall bear a circle of 12 stars that shall fully surround the national design,
including the year mark and the indication of the issuing Member State’s name. This shall not prevent some design elements from extending into the circle of
stars, provided that the stars are all clearly and fully visible. The 12 stars
shall be depicted as on the Union flag.
2. The designs for the national side of
circulation coins shall be chosen taking into account that euro coins circulate
in all Member States whose currency is the euro.
Article 7
1. Changes to the designs used for the
national sides of regular coins may only be made once every 15 years,
without prejudice to changes necessary to prevent counterfeiting of the
currency.
2. Without prejudice to paragraph 1,
changes to the designs used for the national sides of regular coins may be made
where the Head of State referred to on a coin changes. However, a temporary
vacancy or the provisional occupation of the function of Head of State shall
not give any additional right to such change.
Article 8
Issuing Member States shall update their
national sides of regular coins in order to fully comply with this Regulation
by 20 June 2062.
Article 9
1. Commemorative coins shall bear a
different national design from that of the regular coins and shall only
commemorate subjects of major national or European relevance. Commemorative
coins issued collectively by all Member States whose currency is the euro shall
only commemorate subjects of the highest European relevance and their design
shall be without prejudice to the possible constitutional requirements of those
Member States.
2. The edge lettering on commemorative
coins shall be the same as on regular coins.
3. Commemorative coins may only have a face
value of 2 euro.
Article 10
1. Member States shall inform each other of
the draft designs of new national sides of circulation coins, including the
edge lettering, and, for commemorative coins, of the estimated volume of
issuance, before the formal approval of those designs.
2. The power to approve designs for new or
modified national sides of circulation coins shall be conferred on the Council
acting by qualified majority in accordance with the procedure set out in
paragraphs 3 to 7.
When taking the decisions referred to in
this Article, the voting rights of the Member States whose currency is not the
euro shall be suspended.
3. For the purpose of paragraph 1, draft
designs of circulation coins shall be submitted by the issuing Member State to the Council, to the Commission and to the other Member States whose
currency is the euro, in principle at least three months before the planned
issue date.
4. Within seven days following the
submission referred to in paragraph 3, any Member State whose currency is the
euro may, in a reasoned opinion addressed to the Council and to the Commission,
raise an objection to the draft design proposed by the issuing Member State if that draft design is likely to create adverse reactions among its citizens.
5. Where the Commission considers that the
draft design does not respect the technical requirements set out by this
Regulation, it shall, within seven days following the submission referred to in
paragraph 3, submit a negative assessment to the Council.
6. If no reasoned opinion or negative
assessment has been submitted to the Council within the time limit referred to
in paragraphs 4 and 5 respectively, the decision approving the design shall be deemed
to be adopted by the Council on the day following the expiry of the time limit
referred to in paragraph 5.
7. In all other cases, the Council shall
decide without delay on the approval of the draft design, unless, within seven
days following the submission of a reasoned opinion or of a negative
assessment, the issuing Member State withdraws its submission and informs the
Council of its intention to submit a new draft design.
8. All relevant information on new national
circulation coin designs shall be published by the Commission in the Official
Journal of the European Union.
Article 11
Articles 4, 5 and 6 and Article 9(2):
(a)          shall not apply to circulation
coins which have been issued or produced prior to 19 June 2012;
(b)          shall, during a transitional
period ending on 20 June 2062, not apply to the designs that were already legally
in use on circulation coins on 19 June 2012.
Circulation coins that have been issued or
produced during the transitional period may remain legal tender without limit
in time.
ê 
Article 12
Regulation (EC)
No 975/98 is repealed.
References
to the repealed Regulation shall be construed as references to this Regulation
and shall be read in accordance with the correlation table in Annex III.
ê 975/98
(adapted)
Article 13
This Regulation shall enter into force on Ö the
twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of
the European Union Õ.
This
Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in the
Member States, in accordance with the Treaties.
Done at Brussels, 
                                                                       For
the Council
                                                                       The
President
ê 975/98
(adapted)
è1 423/1999 Art. 1 pt. 1(a)
è2 423/1999 Art. 1 pt. 1(b)
è3 423/1999 Art. 1 pt. 1(c)
è4 423/1999 Art. 1 pt. 2
ð new
ANNEX I
Ö Technical
specifications referred to in Article 1 Õ
 Face value (euro) || Diameter in mm || Thickness in mm (1) || Weight in gr || Shape || Colour || Composition || Edge 
 2 || 25,75 || 1,95 ð 2,20 ï || 8,5 || Round || External part: white || Copper-nickel (Cu75Ni25) || Edge lettering Fine milled 
 Internal part: yellow || Three-layers: nickel-brass/nickel/nickel-brass CuZn20Ni5/Ni12/CuZn20Ni5 
 1 || 23,25 || 2,125 ð 2,33 ï || 7,5 || Round || External part: yellow || Nickel-brass (CuZn20Ni5) || Interrupted milled 
 Internal part: white || Three-layers: Cu75Ni25/Ni7/Cu75Ni25 
 0,50 || 24,25 || è1 1,88 ç ð 2,38 ï || è2 7,8 ç || Round || Yellow || Nordic Gold Cu89Al5Zn5Sn1 || è3 shaped edge with fine scallops ç 
 0,20 || 22,25 || 1,63 ð 2,14 ï || 5,7 || ‘Spanish flower’ shape || Yellow || Nordic Gold Cu89Al5Zn5Sn1 || Plain 
 0,10 || 19,75 || 1,51 ð 1,93 ï || 4,1 || Round || Yellow || Nordic Gold Cu89Al5Zn5Sn1 || è4 shaped edge with fine scallops ç 
 0,05 || 21,25 || 1,36 ð 1,67 ï || 3,9 || Round || Red || Copper-covered steel || Smooth 
 0,02 || 18,75 || 1,36 ð 1,67 ï || 3 || Round || Red || Copper-covered steel || Smooth with a groove 
 0,01 || 16,25 || 1,36 ð 1,67 ï || 2,3 || Round || Red || Copper-covered steel || Smooth 
 (1)            The values relating to thickness are of an indicative nature. 
_________________
é
ANNEX II
Repealed Regulation with the list
of its successive amendments
 Council Regulation (EC) No 975/98 || (OJ L 139, 11.5.1998, p. 6) || 
 || Council Regulation (EC) No 423/1999 || (OJ L 52, 27.2.1999, p. 2) 
 || Council Regulation (EU) No 566/2012 || (OJ L 169, 29.6.2012, p. 8) 
_____________
ANNEX III
Correlation Table
 Regulation (EC) No 975/98 || This Regulation 
 Article 1, introductory wording || Article 1 
 Article 1a || Article 2 
 Article 1b || Article 3 
 Article 1c || Article 4 
 Article 1d || Article 5 
 Article 1e || Article 6 
 Article 1f || Article 7 
 Article 1g || Article 8 
 Article 1h || Article 9 
 Article 1i || Article 10 
 Article 1j, introductory wording, point (a) and first sentence of point (b) || Article 11, first paragraph 
 Article 1j, second sentence of point (b) || Article 11, second paragraph 
 - || Article 12 
 Article 2 || Article 13 
 Article 1, table || Annex I 
 _ || Annex II 
 _ || Annex III 
_____________
[1]               COM(87) 868 PV.
[2]               Carried out pursuant to the Communication from the
Commission to the European Parliament and the Council – Codification of the
Acquis communautaire, COM(2001) 645 final.
[3]               COM(2010) 691 final.
[4]               See Annex II to this proposal.
[5]               Opinion of the European
Central Bank of 4 March 2011 on a proposal for a Council Regulation on
denominations and technical specifications of euro coins intended for circulation
(codification) (OJ C 114, 12.4.2011, p. 1).
[6]               "Should it prove
necessary during the legislative process to go beyond straightforward
codification and make substantive changes, it will be the Commission's
responsibility to submit any proposal(s), where appropriate."
[7]               OJ C 102,
4.4.1996, p. 2.
[8]               "The European
Parliament, the Council and the Commission note that if it should appear
necessary to go beyond straightforward codification and make substantive
changes, the Commission will be able to choose, case by case, whether to recast
its proposal or whether to submit a separate proposal for amendment, leaving
its codification proposal on the table, and then, once the substantive change
has been adopted, incorporate it into the proposal for codification."
[9]               OJ C […], […], p. […].
[10]             OJ C […], […], p. […].
[11]             OJ L 139, 11.5.1998,
p. 6.
[12]             See Annex II.
[13]             OJ L 188, 22.7.1994, p. 1.