L 339/50 Official Journal of the European Communities 21.12.2001 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 17 December 2001 establishing an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (the ‘Pericles’ programme) (2001/923EC) 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 Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (%), Having regard to the opinion of the European Central Bank (%), Whereas: (1) The Treaty calls on the Community to take the measures necessary for the rapid introduction of the euro as the single currency. (20  In its Recommendation of 7 July 1998 regarding the adoption of certain measures to enhance the legal protection of euro banknotes and coins (¥, the European Central Bank (ECB) called on the Commission to estab- lish cooperation to combat the counterfeiting of euro banknotes and coins. It also suggested that the Council, the Commission and the Member States consider imple- menting any possible measures to improve the combating of counterfeiting. (3)  In its communication of 22 July 1998 to the Council, the European Parliament and the European Central Bank on the protection of the euro, the Commission said it would examine the possibility of launching a scheme for all those involved in the system for preventing, detecting and suppressing currency counterfeiting, which should allow guidelines to be determined for future planning. (4 On 28 June 2001 the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001 laying down measures necessary for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (°) which () O] C 240 E, 28.8.2001, p. 120. (%) Opinion delivered on 13 November 2001 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () O] C 293, 19.10.2001, p. 3. () O] C 11, 15.1.1999, p. 13. () O] L 181, 4.7.2001, p. 6. deals with exchanges of information, cooperation and mutual assistance, including external aspects of protec- tion of the euro, and the withdrawal obligations incum- bent on financial establishments. Its object is also to set up a comprehensive cooperation framework applicable before euro banknotes and coins are introduced in 2002. On the same day the Council also adopted Regu- lation (EC) No 1339/2001 extending the effects of Regu- lation (EC) No 1338/2001 laying down measures neces- sary for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting to those Member States which have not adopted the euro as their single currency (°). Consultations and experience show that a specific, multi- disciplinary supplementary programme organised at Community level and carried out over the long term is likely to be more effective than measures conducted at national level. The two abovementioned Regulations should accordingly be supplemented by the adoption of an action programme, the aim of which is to raise the awareness of all the persons concerned with the protec- tion of the euro against counterfeiting through the implementation of measures involving in particular the exchange of information and staff and technical and scientific back-up and training measures. This programme will support and complement the work done by Member States in compliance with the principle of subsidiarity provided for in Article 5 of the Treaty. It should be ensured that this Community action programme, which is geared to the protection of the euro against counterfeiting, is consistent with, and complementary to, other existing or future programmes and activities. (9 OJ L 181, 4.7.2001, p. 11.