MEASURES TO PROTECT THE EURO BANKNOTES AND COINS : developments and prospects

Transcription

1 OLAF- Unit Protection of the euro Luca Pierini A COMMUNITY STRATEGY TO PROTECT THE EURO MEASURES TO PROTECT THE EURO BANKNOTES AND COINS : developments and prospects Ministry of Economy and Finance, Italy - Rome / PERICLES PROGRAMME - Central Means of Payment Antifraud Office (UCAMP)

2 Outline : Measures to protect the euro Legal, structural: developments and prospects Training (Pericles): strategy Euro counterfeiting: assessment Cooperation: increase desired Conclusion: success but vigilance 2

3 Outline : Measures to protect the euro Legal, structural: developments and prospects Training (Pericles): strategy Euro counterfeiting: assessment Cooperation: increase desired Conclusion: success but vigilance 3

4 1a) Legal, structural: dev/pts prospects Council Regulation 1338/ modified Definitions, competent authorities, procedures, obligation to withdraw and hand over counterfeits Modified in January 2009: application beg Obligation to ensure that euro currency is genuine before credit institutions put it back into circulation Also in non-euro area Member States Broader range of institutions responsible (CITs) Transport of counterfeits authorised Judicial authorities encouraged to cooperate 4

5 1b) Legal, structural: dev/pts - prospects Council Regulation 2182/ modified Prohibiting medals and tokens when these are similar to euro coins: visual and machine readable Modified in January 2009: also protect stars, geographical representation, signs of sovereignty...; define more clearly assessment criteria. 5

6 1c) Legal, structural: dev/pts prospects Recent agreements Cooperation arrangements between European Commission and (i) Montenegro; (ii) Croatia - exchange of information on counterfeit coins Similar agreements reached or in the pipeline with European Central Bank counterfeit banknotes 6

7 1d) Legal, structural: dev/pts - prospects Status of Europol Council Decision 6 April 2009, applied as of beginning 2010: Europol to become a Community agency New legal base: more flexibility Financed by Community budget: stronger accountability Operational functioning unchanged but extended competences 7

8 1e) Legal, structural: dev/pts - prospects Under preparation Preparation of legislative acts Procedures for authentication of coins Council Regulation under discussion Procedures for authentication of banknotes ECB Decision under preparation Issue discussed: how to increase cooperation between judicial and technical authorities 8

9 Outline : Measures to protect the euro Legal, structural: developments and prospects Training (Pericles): strategy Euro counterfeiting: assessment Cooperation: increase desired Conclusion: success but vigilance 9

10 2) Training - Pericles Programme : Geographical and substantive coverage Period: 2002 to 2013 About 1 mio euro per year In first 8 years 99 projects participants: 70% of which by MS (30% Commission) 55% conferences/seminars, 26% staff exchange, 12% workshops, 7% studies Strategic approach to prevention of currency counterfeiting and operational support 10

11 Outline : Measures to protect the euro Legal, structural: developments and prospects Training (Pericles): strategy Euro counterfeiting: assessment Cooperation: increase desired Conclusion: success but vigilance 11

12 3) Developments in euro counterfeiting: Vigilance Counterfeit banknotes : on the increase; counterfeit coins : steady and low. Numbers low by international or historical standards. Police action successful : continuous dismantling of illegal printshops/mints. 12

13 Outline : Measures to protect the euro Legal, structural: developments and prospects Training (Pericles): strategy Euro counterfeiting: assessment Cooperation: increase desired Conclusion: success but vigilance 13

14 4a) Cooperation : Efficient cooperative structure European institutions and bodies, complementary roles : ECB, Europol, Eurojust, European Commission/OLAF. Interpol : outside EU Member States : dedicated bodies, in line with R. 1338/2001: NCOs: coordination law enforcement NACs: technical analysis banknotes CNACs : technical analysis coins 14

15 4b) Cooperation : Further improvement needed in EU With judicial authorities: need to exploit leeway to release counterfeits to technical authorities Among law enforcement: more information to be exchanged between Europol and national law enforcement more focus on sensitive areas At international level: establish agreements where appropriate. 15

16 Outline : Measures to protect the euro Legal, structural: developments and prospects Training (Pericles): strategy Euro counterfeiting: assessment Cooperation: increase desired Conclusion 16

17 5) Conclusion: success, vigilance, cooperation Mechanisms are in place though which the euro is efficiently protected against counterfeiting, both at national, international and at European level. Continued vigilance required to maintain and further improve the level of protection. Need to maintain high level of cooperation. 17

18 OLAF- Unit Protection of the euro Luca Pierini A COMMUNITY STRATEGY TO PROTECT THE EURO Thank you for your attention Luca PIERINI Unit Protection of the Euro Tel: Fax: luca.pierini@ec.europa.eu Ministry of Economy and Finance, Italy - Rome / PERICLES PROGRAMME - Central Means of Payment Antifraud Office (UCAMP)