Protection of the euro against counterfeiting

KEY POINTS

With a view to the introduction of the euro on 1 January 2002, this decision supplemented a number of existing rules on the protection of the euro against counterfeiting, namely:

• Council Framework Decision 2000/383/JHA, which was replaced by Directive 2014/62/EU, on the use of criminal law to protect the euro and other currencies against counterfeiting;
• Council Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001 laying down other measures necessary for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting.

During investigations into counterfeiting of the euro, EU countries must ensure that national analysis centres (NACs) carry out the necessary expert analyses of suspected counterfeit euro notes, while coin national analysis centres (CNACs) must carry out these analyses for suspected counterfeit coins. EU countries must forward the results of these expert analyses to Europol (European Police Office).

EU countries’ national central offices responsible for investigations into counterfeiting of the euro and related offences must send centralised information on their investigations, including information received from non-EU countries, to Europol. The following information at least should be sent:

• details of the persons involved;
• description of the offences;
• the circumstances in which the offences were discovered;
• the context of the seizure;
• any connections to other cases.

To cooperate on their investigations into counterfeiting and offences related to counterfeiting of the euro, EU countries’ competent authorities should make use of the facilities of Eurojust.

Commission Decision 2005/37/EC set up the European Technical and Scientific Centre whose role is to protect euro coins against counterfeiting. To do this, it analyses and classifies counterfeit euro coins and assists national authorities.