91997E3920

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3920/97 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (11 December 1997)

Subject: Depiction of the Greek islands on euro coins and banknotes

In his reply to my previous Written Question E-0885/97 ((OJ C 319, 18.10.1997, p. 186. )) Commissioner de Silguy had notified me that the depiction of the map of Europe on euro coins and banknotes was provisional and that the final version would include the Greek islands which had been omitted in the models of the new single European currency unveiled some time ago.

Will the Commission say whether the commitment undertaken by the Commissioner responsible was honoured when the map of Europe was finalized for the new euro coins and banknotes, given that this is a matter of justifiable public concern in Greece and will determine whether the first common currency in the history of our Continent receives the psychological acceptance it obviously needs from the peoples of Europe?

Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission (29 January 1998)

The Council of the European Monetary Institute approved the definitive designs for euro notes in May 1997. The changes made concerned among other things the map of Europe, which was rectified to ensure proper geographical representation of the continent. In particular, all islands, archipelagos and territories larger than 400 km2 are shown.

As for euro coins, the Commission announced following the Amsterdam European Council that the designs selected for the common face of the coins had been altered slightly, again to ensure correct representation of the map of Europe.

These changes were carried out, due account being taken of the observations made by the authorities of the fifteen Member States, and the definitive designs were approved by the Ecofin Council on 17 November.

In view of the technical constraints resulting from the size of the coins, islands with a surface area of at least 2 500 km2 are shown. Application of this criterion has resulted in Crete now being included in the design for the coins worth from 10 cents to 2 euros.

The geographical representation of Greece has also been rectified following observations by the Greek authorities, who, among other things, adjusted the representation of Peloponnese and the Khalkidiki peninsula.