Amended proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins
S ««fctsfe COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES Brussels, 14. 11. 1997 COM(97)615 final 97/ 0154 (SYN) Amended proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins (presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 a (2) of the EC-Treaty) EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM Pursuant to the opinion expressed by the European Parliament in the framework of the co the Commission has revised its original operation procedure according to Article 189c, proposal to modify recital 4, add four new recitals 5, 6, 8 and 10. Recital 4 has been modified to clarify that according to their mandate the EC Mint Directors elaborated a technical report on the denominations and technical specifications of the euro coins, which served as a basis to the formal proposal presented by the Commission according to the legislative procedure. The new Recitals 5 and 6 stress the underlying aims of the coin system proposed by the Commission. The denominations and technical specifications proposed aim at inducing public confidence, entailing technological innovation and establishing a secure, reliable and efficient system. Recital 8 stresses one of the main visual and tactile characteristics which have been taken into account to ensure easy distinction between coins. Recital 10 refers to the coin design and clarifies the underlying aim of having one common face and one face showing a national feature on the coins. Article 1 has been modified to correct some transcriptions errors in the original proposal (i. e. correction of the diameter of the 5 cent coin to 21. 25 mm (formerly 21. 75 mm) and the weight of the 1 cent coin to 2. 3 gr. (formerly 2. 2 gr. )). Amended Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION ( EQ on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins 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 Central Bank, In cooperation with the European Parliament, (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 coins in euro by 1 January 2002 at the latest; (2) Whereas Article 105a (2) of the Treaty states that "Member States may issue coins subject to approval by the ECB of the volume of the issue. The Council may, acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 189c and after consulting the ECB, adopt measures to harmonize the denominations and technical specifications of all coins intended for circulation to the extent necessary to permit their smooth circulation within the Community"; (3) Whereas the European Monetary Institute has indicated that euro banknotes will range from 5 euro to 500 euro; whereas the denominations of banknotes and coins will need to allow that cash payments of amounts expressed in euro and cent can be made easily; (4) Whereas the EC Mint Directors were mandated to study and elaborate a report for a European single coinage system; whereas they submitted a report in November 1996 then a revised report in February 1997 indicating the denominations and technical specifications (diameter, thickness, weight, colour, composition and edge) of the new euro coins. 3 (5) Whereas the new European single coinage system should induce public confidence and entail technological innovations that would establish it as a secure, reliable and an efficient system. (6) Whereas the acceptance of the new system by the public is one of the main objective of the EC coinage syste; whereas public confidence in the new system would depend on the phisical characteristics of the euro coins, which should be as user friendly as posssible. (7) Whereas consultations with consumers associations, the European Blind Union and representatives of the vending machines industry have been carried out to take into account the specific requirements of important categories of coins users; whereas, in order to ensure a smooth changeover to the euro and facilitate acceptance of the new coinage systems by users, easy distinction between coins through visual and tactile characteristics will need to be guaranteed; (8) Whereas the new euro coins will be more readily distinguishable and easier to become accustomed to it if there is a link between their diameter and face value. (9) Whereas some special security features are needed 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 layer and the combination of two different colours in the coin are considered to be the most efficient security features available today; (10) Whereas giving the coins one European and one national side is an appropriate expression of the idea of European monetary union between Member States and could substantially increase the degree of acceptance of the coins by European citizens; (11) Whereas in 1994 the Council and the European Parliament adopted a Directive (94/27/CE) limiting the use of nickel in certain products in recognition that nickel could be a cause of allergies under certain conditions; whereas coins are not covered by this Directive; whereas nevertheless some Member States already use a nickel-free alloy called Nordic Gold in their current coinage system for reasons of public health; whereas it seems desirable to reduce the nickel content of coins when moving to a new coinage system, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Anicjei The first series of euro coins will include eight deoominaEions in the range from 1 cent to 2 euro with the following technical specifications; Face value (euro) Diameter in mm. Thickness in mm. Weight ingr. Shape Colour Composition Edge 2 25. 75 1. 95 8. 5 Round Ext. part: white Int. part: yellow 1 23. 25 2. 125 7. 5 Round Ext. part: yellow Int. part: White Copper-nickel (Cu75Ni25) three-layer Edge lettering Fine milled Nickel-brass/Nickel/ Nickel- brass CuZn20Ni5/Ni 12/CuZn20Ni5 Nickel-brass (CuZn20Ni5) three-layer Interrupted milled Cu75Ni25/Ni7/Cu75Ni25 0. 50 24. 25 1. 69 7 Round Yellow Nordic Gold Coarse milled Cu89A15Zn5Snl 0. 20 22. 25 1. 63 5. 7 "Spanish flower" shape Yellow Nordic Gold Plain Cu89A15Zn5Snl 0. 10 19. 75 1. 51 4. 1 Round Yellow Nordic Gold Coarse milled Cu89A15Zn5Snl 0. 05 21. 25 0. 02 18. 75 1. 41 1. 36 3. 9 3 Round Red Copper covered steel Smooth Round Red Copper covered steel Smooth with a groove 0. 01 16. 25 1. 32 2. 3 Round Red Copper covered steel Smooth This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 January 1999. Article 2 ISSN 0254-1475 COM(97) 615 final DOCUMENTS EN 01 06 09 Catalogue number : CB-CO-97-631-EN-C ISBN 92-78-27727-4 Office for Official Publications of the European Communities L-2985 Luxembourg