91997E3987

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3987/97 by Georges Berthu (I-EDN) to the Council (15 January 1998)

Subject: Euro bank notes - distinctive national symbols

The position adopted by the EMI Council on 3 December 1996 prohibiting distinctive national symbols on the future European bank notes does not appear to have been the subject of a proper democratic debate. The Dublin European Council (13 and 14 December 1996) seems merely to have been 'informed' of it, but there is no sign in its conclusions of explicit approval or even of a mere mention of this specific point.

Although this total lack of democratic supervision is, and though it may seem, provided for by the Treaty itself, unlike the arrangements made for the future coins, does the Council not agree that on such an important point the Member States should be involved in the decision in some way? Is it conceivable that there should be a complete lack of parliamentary supervision at any level?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3986/97, E-3987/97, E-3988/97, E-3989/97 and E-3990/97 (19 March 1998)

It ensues from the allocation of powers provided for under the Treaty that the European Central Bank alone is empowered to authorize the issue of banknotes in euro, also as regards aspects relating to their presentation (Article 105(a) of the Treaty and Article 16 of the Protocol to the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank).

At its meeting in Dublin on 13 and 14 December 1996, the European Council welcomed the designs for the euro banknotes presented to it by the European Monetary Institute.

The final decisions on the matter will be taken by the European Central Bank once it has been set up in accordance with the Treaty.