51997AP0386

A4-0386/97

Decision on the common position adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a Council Regulation on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins intended for circulation (C4-0598/97 - 97/0154(SYN))

(Cooperation procedure: second reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the common position of the Council, C4-0598/97 - 97/0154(SYN),

- having regard to its opinion at first reading ((Minutes of 6 November 1997, Part II, Item 2.)) on the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(97)0247 ((OJ C 208 9.7.1997, p.5.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 189c of the EC Treaty,

- having regard to Rule 67 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the recommendation for second reading of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy (A4-0386/97),

1. Amends the common position as follows;

2. Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council and Commission.

(Amendment 1)

Recital 6a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

(6a) Whereas the number of denominations together with their face value should be based on all Member States' experience with their national coinage systems and their most commonly used petty coins, and should take account of the future needs of an economy characterized by an increasing use of electronic money; whereas the new coinage system should reflect the views of the blind and of old people who have both insisted on the smallest possible number of denominations forming a single series in which value increases with diameter; whereas, because in future large quantities of coins may become superfluous as the use of electronic money increases, coins ought to be made of a material which can be recycled easily, such as stainless steel;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 8a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

(8a) Whereas the denominations 0.01/0.10/1.00 are the pillars of a decimal system of coinage; whereas it is possible to reduce the euro coinage system by making do without the proposed 0.02 and 0.20 euro denominations;

(Amendment 2)

Article 1, table

Before first denomination 'Face value (euro): 2", new denomination

>Text following EP vote>

Face value (euro)

100

Diameter in mm.

Thickness in mm.

Weight in grams

Shape

Round

Colour

Yellow

Composition

Gold (1)

Edge

Edge lettering

Fine milled

(1) The value of the metal and the production cost must not exceed the nominal value.

(Separate vote)

Article 1, table, fourth denomination

>Original text>

Face value (euro)

0,20

Diameter in mm.

22,25

Thickness in mm.

1,63

Weight in grams

5,7

Shape

'Spanish flower¨ shape

Colour

Yellow

Composition

Nordic Gold

Cu89AI5Zn5Sn1

Edge

Plain

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Separate vote)

Article 1, table, seventh denomination

>Original text>

Face value (euro)

0,02

Diameter in mm.

18,75

Thickness in mm.

1,36

Weight in grams

3

Shape

Round

Colour

Red

Composition

Copper covered steel

Edge

Smooth with a groove

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted