L 139/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 11. 5. 98 COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 975/98 of 3 May 1998 on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins intended for circulation THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 105a(2) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Monetary Institute (%), Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 189c of the Treaty (%), 1) Whereas, at the meeting of the European Council in Madrid on 15 and 16 December 1995, the scenario for the changeover to the single currency was adopted which provides for introduction of euro coins by 1 January 2002 at the latest; whereas the precise date for the issue of euro coins will be decided when the Council adopts its regulation on the introduction of the euro immediately after the decision on the Member States adopting the euro as the single currency has been taken as early as possible in 1998; Whereas, according to Article 105a(2) of the Treaty, Member States may issue coins subject to approval by the European Central Bank (ECB) of the volume of the issue and the Council may, acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 189¢ and after consulting the ECB, adopt measures to har- monise the denominations and technical specifica- tions of all coins intended for circulation to the extent necessary to permit their smooth circulation within the Community; Whereas the European Monetary Institute has in- dicated that euro banknotes will range from EUR 5 to EUR 500; whereas the denominations of bank- notes and coins will need to allow for cash payments () OJ C 208,9.7.1997, p. 5 and OJ C 386, 20. 12. 1997, p. 12. () Opinion delivered on 25 June 1997 (O] C 205, 5. 7. 1997, p. 18). () Opinion of the European Parliament of 6 November 1997 (OJ C 358, 24. 11. 1997, p. 24), Council common position of 20 November 1997 (O] C 23, 23. 1. 1998, p. 1) and Decision of the European Parliament of 17 December 1997 (O] C 14, 19. 1. 1998). (10) of amounts expressed in euro and cent to be made easily; Whereas the mint directors of the Community received a mandate from the Council to study and elaborate a report for a European single coinage system; whereas they submitted a report in November 1996 followed by a revised report in February 1997 indicating the denominations and technical specifications (diameter, thickness, weight, colour, composition and edge) of the new euro coins; Whereas the new European single coinage system should induce public confidence and entail techno- logical innovations that would establish it as a secure, reliable and efficient system; Whereas the acceptance of the new system by the public is one of the main objectives of the Com- munity coinage system; whereas public confidence in the new system would depend on the physical characteristics of the euro coins, which should be as user-friendly as possible; Whereas consultations with consumer associations, the European Blind Union and representatives of the vending machines industry have been carried out to take into account the specific requirements of im- portant categories of coin users; whereas, in order to ensure a smooth changeover to the euro and to facil- itate acceptance of the new coinage systems by users, easy distinction between coins through visual and tactile characteristics will need to be guaranteed; Whereas the new euro coins will be more readily distinguishable and easier to become accustomed to if there is a link between their diameter and face value; Whereas certain special security features are needed in order to reduce the scope for fraud for the 1 and 2 euro given their high value; whereas 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 today; Whereas giving the coins one European and one national side is an appropriate expression of the idea