(1)

The European Central Bank (ECB) has the exclusive right since 1 January 1999 to approve the volume of coins issued by the Member States whose currency is the euro.

(2)

Based on the estimates of demand for euro coins in 2024 that the Member States whose currency is the euro submitted to the ECB, the ECB approved the total volume of euro coins intended for circulation and euro collector coins not intended for circulation in 2024 in Decision (EU) 2023/2684 of the European Central Bank (ECB/2023/28) (2).

(3)

Pursuant to Article 3 of Decision (EU) 2015/2332 (ECB/2015/43), Member States whose currency is the euro must notify the ECB if the actual demand for euro coins is likely to exceed the approved volume of coin issuance in a calendar year and, where the increased coin demand continues, must request ad hoc approval for an additional volume of coin issuance in that calendar year.

(4)

On 19 July 2024, the ECB received a request from Hrvatska narodna banka on behalf of Croatia to increase the volume of euro collector coins that Croatia may issue in 2024 by an additional volume of EUR 0,11 million, from EUR 0,20 million to EUR 0,31 million, including a safety margin. The request was made for two reasons. First, the issuance of two different euro collector coin designs, which had initially been scheduled for the last quarter of 2023, was postponed until the first quarter of 2024 due to technical difficulties. Second, the organisation of a significant international memorial sports event has been added to the 2024 collector coin issuance plan.

(5)

On 9 August 2024, the ECB received a request from Národna banka Slovenska on behalf of Slovakia to increase the volume of euro circulation coins that Slovakia may issue in 2024 by an additional volume of EUR 4,0 million, from EUR 14,0 million to EUR 18,0 million. An unexpectedly high volume of euro circulation coins has been issued since January 2024, likely due to a rise in prices of daily consumption goods and demand for high-value coins. Euro coin demand is expected to remain at elevated levels until the end of 2024. As a result of the increased net issuance of euro circulation coins, the volume of euro circulation coins for Slovakia needs to be increased.

(6)

On 26 August 2024, the ECB received a request from the Greek Ministry of Economy and Finance to increase the volume of euro collector coins that Greece may issue in 2024 by an additional volume of EUR 0,068 million, from EUR 0,61 million to EUR 0,68 million. The request was made to cater for the issuance of 5 000 euro collector coins themed around ‘Martyred villages and towns of Greece’, each with a face value of EUR 10, and, at the request of the Greek Deputy Minister for Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, of 1 800 additional euro collector coins with the same face value.

(7)

Pursuant to Article 3(7) of Decision (EU) 2015/2332 (ECB/2015/43), the Executive Board must adopt an individual decision on the ad hoc approval request, when no modification to the ad hoc request is required.

(8)

Therefore, Decision (EU) 2023/2684 (ECB/2023/28) should be amended accordingly,

(1)

the row regarding Greece is replaced by the following:

(2)

the row regarding Croatia is replaced by the following:

(3)

the row regarding Slovakia is replaced by the following:

(4)

the row entitled ‘Total’ is replaced by the following: