REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL concerning the implementation and the results of the Pericles programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting 2006 -2013
Date: 2014-09-05
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU programme, action programme, counterfeiting, euro, technical education













EUR-Lex - 52014DC0550 - EN











|



52014DC0550

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL concerning the implementation and the results of the Pericles programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting 2006 -2013 /* COM/2014/0550 final */









REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL
concerning the implementation and the
results of the Pericles programme for the protection of the euro against
counterfeiting 2006 -2013
1.           General
The ‘Pericles’
Programme is an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection
of the euro against counterfeiting. The Programme was established by Council
Decision 2001/923/EC of 17 December 2001 for a four year period (1 January 2002
to 31 December 2005).[1] 
This Decision was amended by two Council Decisions: 2006/75/EC of 30 January
2006[2] and 2006/849/EC of 20
November 2006[3],
hereafter the Pericles Decision. The latter Decision extended the duration of
the programme until 31 December 2013.
Article 13 (3)
(b) of Council Decision 2001/923/EC, as amended by Council Decision
2006/849/EC, requires a detailed report on the implementation and results of
the Programme to be submitted to the European Parliament and Council by 30 June
2014. This report responds to that requirement in relation to the implementation
period 2006-2013 and builds on the evaluation carried out in 2013 referred to
in section 2 of this report.
2.           Previous Evaluation
Reports
Article 13(3) (a)
of the Council
Decision 2001/923/EC, as amended by Council Decision 2006/849/EC requires
the
Commission to send to the European Parliament and the Council a report, which
shall be independent of the programme manager, evaluating the relevance,
efficiency and effectiveness of the programme and a communication on whether
the programme should be continued and adapted, accompanied by an appropriate
proposal. This evaluation was performed by the Internal Audit
Capability and Evaluation function of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) during
2013. The Commission has sent this detailed evaluation
to the Parliament and Council with its Communication COM/2013/588; the
evaluation covers the period from 2002 to the first call for proposals 2012.
Furthermore the Commission has carried out a mid-term evaluation
2006-2010[4]
to assess the effectiveness of the Programme. This mid-term evaluation has been
used in the framework of the Commission’s impact assessment which accompanied
its proposal for the “Pericles 2020” programme under the 2014-2020 multi-annual
financial framework (MFF) (see section 4). 
The present Report focuses on the factual implementation of the
programme and on the annual outputs realised in the period 2006-2013.
3.           Implementation of the
programme[5]
and results
Based on the
reference amount of EUR 1 million for 2006 and EUR 6.9 million for the period
2007-2013, the annual appropriations authorised under the Pericles programme
were EUR 1 million per year with the exception of 2010 (EUR 0.9 million). 
The
implementation of Pericles reflected the high level of interest of Member
States on the protection of the euro against counterfeiting. Discussions of the
multi-annual strategy at the meetings of the Euro Counterfeiting Experts Group
(ECEG) have made it possible to commit 95.7% of the overall budget. In three
consecutive years (2009-2010-2011) OLAF had to recommit budget de-committed
during the same year in order to meet Member States’ requests. 
In the period
2006-2013 Pericles funded 113 projects; of these projects 72 originated from
the competent authorities of Member States, while 41 were initiatives of the
Commission/OLAF; details are available in Annex I.[6] 
According to
the Evaluation of the Pericles programme of 2013[7]:
“The activities financed by the programme are in general highly relevant to the
achievement of its specific objectives. Training and dissemination and
networking activities are the most relevant activities. Staff exchanges and
teaching sources are also highly relevant. Around 95% of the programme
resources have been allocated to the activities with the highest relevance”.
Most of the actions that were carried
out in the period 2006-2013 were seminars[8],
training/ workshops and staff exchanges. Details are available in Annex II.[9]
Selected target groups and
participants 
According to
the Evaluation of the Pericles programme of 2013[10]: “The target groups
of the programme are also highly relevant. The most relevant target group is
police which is also the target group most involved in the programme activities
both as organisers and participants. Judicial authorities and national central
banks are also highly relevant and both target groups participate in most
programme activities although the evaluation findings suggest that increasing
the involvement of the judicial authorities could be desirable. Private sector,
namely the financial/banking sector, is also a relevant target group,
particularly in MS which are not part of the euro area and third countries
where training at national level is not always provided by national
authorities”.
Graph I and graph II: origin of participants and the
professional background of participants 
An overall number
of 4 320 experts participated in Pericles events. 
In terms of
origin, participants came from 83 countries. The majority of trainees (51%) were
Member States nationals with clear predominance of staff from the euro area. European
participants account for 73 % in total, while 16% of trainees were from Latin
America (mainly Colombia, Peru and Argentina). While Africa was mainly
represented by North African nationalities, the participation of Asian trainees
was mainly limited to Chinese[11].

With respect
to the professional background of participants, members from police forces,
represent 64% of the total. This is due to the fact that police authorities represent
the front line in the fight against euro counterfeiting and police staff
includes both investigators and technicians. Differentiation among the various other
categories of participants (36%), including a high participation from Central
Banks (11%) and judicial staff (7%), should be underscored.
As a result,
Pericles implementation met the transnational and multidisciplinary dimensions
of the programme, as required under Article 3 of the Pericles Decision.
In general,
for each year of implementation, new applicants to the programme[12] were added, attesting
to OLAF’s efforts to diversify the use of Pericles funds. Countries most
affected by euro counterfeiting have been more frequent users of Pericles
funds, e.g. Italy, Spain and Germany. It may be noted that Member States not
requesting funds did so generally due to organisational rather than structural reasons.
Graph III: Number of actions per Member State (grants 2006-2013)
Pericles
actions outside the EU
Pericles
actions took place both inside and outside the EU depending on the specific
needs to protect the euro against counterfeiting. Since its inception, Pericles
consolidated its regional approach by implementing actions involving
particularly sensitive regions of the world. Specific focus were Latin America
(where Colombian and Peruvian organised crime represents a substantial threat
for the euro) and neighbouring areas such as the South East of Europe
(including Turkey and the Western Balkans), the Mediterranean region and the North
East of Europe. 
Structural
and legislative improvements
Significantly,
in addition to their awareness-raising and training content, Pericles actions
have led to a number of structural and legislative improvements in Member
States and in third countries. Among others, Colombia, Peru and Argentina made a strong effort to establish structures against counterfeiting similar to the
National Central Offices in the European Union. Pericles assisted the (then)
acceding countries and newcomers in their efforts to apply the EU acquis in the
specific area of protecting the euro[13].

Finally, the results
of Pericles events were used by the Commission in the preparation of the
Proposal for a Directive on the protection of the euro and other currencies
against counterfeiting by criminal law[14].
In particular, the need to  permit the use of the same investigation methods in
currency counterfeiting investigations as those used in  other serious organised
crimes, was highlighted in Pericles seminars and added as a provision to the
proposed Directive.
4.         Way
Forward
In its
Communication COM/2013/588 the Commission clearly indicated that the overall
results of the evaluation[15]
carried out in 2013 were very positive. The Pericles programme was fully
endorsed by organisers of and participants in Pericles actions, who expressed
their support for the continuation of the programme beyond 2013[16]. 
On 11 March
2014, Regulation (EU) No 331/2014[17]
of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an exchange,
assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against
counterfeiting (the “Pericles 2020” programme) was adopted covering the MFF
2014-2020. It is currently being implemented under the Annual Work Programme 2014
attached to the Financing Decision of 2014 (C(2014)3427)[18]. 
The Commission
shall provide annual information on the results of the Programme to the
European Parliament and to the Council, in accordance with Art. 13 of
Regulation (EU) No 331/2014. 
[1] OJ L 339 of 21.12.2001, p. 50-54.
[2] OJ L 36 of 8.2.2006, p. 40-41. 
[3] OJ L 330, 28.11.2006, p. 28-29.
[4] This mid-term evaluation is Annex III  to
the  Impact Assessment (SEC (2011) 1615 final) accompanying the Proposal for a
REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL establishing the
'Pericles 2020' programme (COM(2011) 913 final).
[5] Tables of annual implementation 2006-2013 are
published on the site: http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud/euro-protection/training/index_en.htm
[6] Annex I - Aggregate
Statistics of Implementation Pericles Programme 2006-2013.
[7] Staff Working
Document SWD (2013) 304 final, p. 45. 
[8] Seminars: Conference-Training-Workshop (CTW).
[9] Annex II - Table on the Breakdown on the type of
activity financed under the Pericles Programme 2006-2013.
[10] Staff Working Document SWD (2013) 304 final,
p.45-46.
[11] “Other” includes North America and European
and International institutions.
[12] Competent national authorities as referred
to in Article 2 (b) of Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001 of 28 June 2001, laying
down measures necessary for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting,
OJ L 181, 4.7.2011, p.6.
[13] Council Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001 of 28
June 2001 laying down measures necessary for the protection of the euro against
counterfeiting as 
amended by
Council regulation (EC) No 44/2009 of 18 December 2008, Council regulation (EC)
No 1339/2001 of 28 June 2001 extending the effects 
of Regulation
(EC) No 1338/2001 laying down measures necessary for the protection of the euro
against counterfeiting to those Member States which 
have not
adopted the euro as their single currency, Decision of the European Central
Bank of 16 September 2010 on the authenticity and fitness 
checking and
recirculation of euro banknotes (ECB/2010/14), Regulation (EU) No 1210/2010 of
the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 
December 2010
concerning authentication of euro coins and handling of euro coins unfit for
circulation and Council regulation (EC) No 2182/2004 of 
6 December
2004 concerning medals and tokens similar to euro coins as amended by Council
Regulation (EC) No 46/2009 of 18 December 2008.  
[14] Proposal for a directive of the European
Parliament and of the Council on the protection of the euro and other
currencies against counterfeiting by criminal law, and replacing Council
Framework Decision 2000/383/JHA. The directive entered into force on the 22nd
of May 2014; Directive 2014/62/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council
of 15 May 2014 on the protection of the euro and other currencies against
counterfeiting by criminal law, and replacing Council Framework Decision
2000/383/JHA.
[15] Staff Working Document SWD (2013) 304 final
[16] Impact Assessment (SEC (2011) 1615 final)
accompanying the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of
the Council establishing 
the 'Pericles
2020' programme (COM (2011) 913 final).
[17] OJ L 103, 5.4.2014, p.1.
[18] The “Proposal for a Council Regulation extending to the
non-participating Member States the application of Regulation (EU) No 331/2014 
establishing
an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro
against counterfeiting (the ‘Pericles 2020’ programme)” is 
expected to
be adopted by the end of 2014. This
Regulation is based on the Commission proposal COM(2011) 913 final accompanied
by the impact
assessment
SWD SEC(2011) 1615 final.
Aggregate
Statistics of Implementation
PERICLES
PROGRAMME 2006-2013
 Pericles - Summary of Implementation 2006-2013 ||
 Financial year || Number of actions || Initiating MS (countries hosting COM initiatives) || Main target groups || Number of participants || Grant commitments || Budget allocation || Level of commitment at 31/12 of relevant year ||
 2006 || 12 || BE, DE, ES, HU, IT, PL, (RO) || Police, judicial, banks || 593 || 944 151 || 1 000 000 || 94,4% ||
 MS       9     COM    3 ||
 2007 || 12 || BE, DE, ES, FR, IT || Police, judicial, banks || 477 || 801 522 || 1 000 000 || 80,2% ||
 MS       7      COM    5 ||
 2008 || 11 || DE, ES, IT, FR, NL, (HR+ ME+TR) || Police, judicial, banks || 589 || 913 087 || 1 000 000 || 91,3% ||
 MS       8   COM    3    ||
 2009 || 17 || BE, DE, FR, IT, PT, (HR+ME) || Police, banks, judicial || 548 || 1 004 631[1] || 1 000 000 || 100,5% ||
 MS       8       COM    9 ||
 2010 || 17 || BE, ES, DE, EE, IT, PL, PT, (MK+RS+TR) || Police, banks, judicial || 572 || 902 956[2] || 900 000 || 100,3% ||
 MS     12            COM   5     ||
 2011 || 15 || DE, ES, HU, IT, PL, PT, RO, || Police, banks, judicial || 660 ||   1 044 506[3]   || 1 000 000 || 104,5% ||
 MS     10         COM   5 ||
 2012 || 16 || DE, EE, ES, FR, IT, RO, (AL+HR+MK+UA) || Police, banks, judicial || 649 || 995 847 || 1 000 000 || 99,6% ||
 MS     11  COM   5 ||
 2013 || 13 || ES, IT, HR, LV, RO, (BG+EL+ME) || Police, banks, judicial, customs || 232[4] || 954 207 || 1 000 000 || 95,4% ||
 MS      7   COM   6 ||
 TOTAL || 113 || BE, DE, EE, ES, FR, HR, HU, IT, LV, NL, PL, PT, RO (AL+BG+EL+ ME+MK+RS+ TR+UA) ||  Police, banks, judicial || 4 320 || 7 560 907 || 7 900 000 || 95.7% ||
 MS     72     COM 41 ||
[1] The total amount is more than 100% of the
available budget because of the recommitment of funds decommitted during the
same year
[2] See previous footnote
[3] See previous footnote 
[4] This figure consists of only the received
final reports. Several final evaluation reports from actions dating from 2013
are not yet submitted. 
Pericles
Programme
Breakdown
by type of activity financed
                                      2006-2013
                                                               Type of activity ||                                                      Number 
                                                Conferences ||                                                               10 
                                                            Seminars: Confernce-Trainings-Workshops (CTW) ||                                                               22 
                                       Training/Workshops ||                                                                 41 
                                                                  Staff Exchanges ||                                                                30 
                                              Studies/Teaching sources ||                                                                    7 
                                                                     Other (expert visits and cross-border operations) ||                                                                         3 
                                                          TOTAL ||                                                               113