(1)

According to Article 106(2) of the Treaty, Member States may issue coins subject to approval by the European Central Bank of the volume of the issue.

(2)

In accordance with the second sentence of Article 106(2) of the Treaty, the Council has adopted harmonising measures in this field, by way of Council Regulation (EC) No 975/98 of 3 May 1998 on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins intended for circulation (1).

(3)

According to Article 11 of Council Regulation (EC) No 974/98 of 3 May 1998 on the introduction of the euro (2), coins denominated in euro and cent and complying with the denominations and technical specifications should have the status of legal tender in all ‘participating Member States’ as defined in that Regulation.

(4)

According to common practice among participating Member States, euro coins intended for circulation, including commemorative coins intended for circulation, should be put into circulation at face value. This does not exclude, however, that a minor proportion of the total value of issued coins is sold at a higher price if produced with a special quality or presented in special packaging.

(5)

Euro coins not only circulate in the issuing Member State but in the whole euro area and even beyond. In this context, a clear indication of the issuing Member State should be put on the national side of the euro coin in order to allow interested coin users to easily identify the issuing Member State.

(6)

Euro coins have a common European side and a distinctive national side. The common European sides of the euro coins bear both the name of the single currency and the denomination of the coin. The national side should neither repeat the name of the single currency nor the denomination of the coin.

(7)

The designs on the national sides of the euro coins are decided by each participating Member State, but should be fully surrounded by the 12 stars of the European flag.

(8)

Common rules should be followed by the participating Member States as regards changes to the national side of the euro coins. The designs used for the national sides of regular euro coins intended for circulation should in principle not be modified, except if the Head of State referred to on a coin changes.

(9)

Commemorative coins are specific coins intended for circulation where the regular national design is replaced by a different national design in order to commemorate a specific subject. The 2-euro coin constitutes the most suitable denomination for this purpose, principally because of the large diameter of the coin and its technical characteristics offering adequate protection against counterfeiting.

(10)

Issues of commemorative euro coins intended for circulation should only commemorate subjects of major national or European relevance, since such coins are intended for circulation throughout the euro-area. Less important subjects should rather be celebrated by way of issuing euro collector coins, which are not intended for circulation and which must be easily distinguishable from euro coins intended for circulation. Commemorative coins collectively issued by all participating Member States should be reserved for subjects of the highest European relevance.

(11)

The issuing limit of one commemorative euro coin intended for circulation per issuing Member State per year has worked well and should remain in place together with the additional possibility for a collective issue of a commemorative euro coin intended for circulation by all participating Member States. Moreover, Member States may issue a commemorative euro coin intended for circulation in the case of a temporary vacancy or a provisional occupation of the function of Head of State.

(12)

It is necessary to establish certain volume limits for commemorative coins intended for circulation in order to ensure that such coins remain a small percentage of the total number of the 2-euro coins in circulation. At the same time, these volume limits should allow for the issuance of a sufficient volume of coins to ensure that commemorative coins can circulate effectively.

(13)

As the euro coins circulate throughout the euro area, their national design features are a matter of common interest. Issuing Member States should inform each other about new national sides well in advance of the planned issue date. To this effect, issuing Member States should forward their draft euro coin designs to the Commission, which will verify the compliance with this Recommendation.

(14)

The Member States have been consulted on the guidelines set out in this Recommendation, in order to take account of their different national practices and preferences in this area.

(15)

The Community has concluded Monetary Agreements with the Principality of Monaco, the Republic of San Marino and the Vatican City State, allowing them to issue certain quantities of euro coins. The common guidelines should also be applicable to the coins intended for circulation issued by those States.

(16)

A review of this Recommendation should be prepared before the end of 2015, in order to determine whether the guidelines need to be modified.

(17)

This Recommendation should replace the Commission Recommendation of 29 September 2003 on a common practice for changes to the design of national obverse sides of euro circulation coins (3) and the Commission Recommendation of 3 June 2005 on common guidelines for the national sides of euro circulation coins (4),