PURPOSE: to extend to the non-participating Member States the application of the Regulation establishing an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (the 'Pericles 2020' programme).

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Regulation (EU) 2015/768 extending to the non-participating Member States the application of Regulation (EU) No 331/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (the ‘Pericles 2020’ programme).

CONTENT: the Regulation extends the application of the Regulation establishing an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (the 'Pericles 2020' programme) to the non-participating Member States.

In order to ensure a smooth transition without interruption between the Pericles programme and the Pericles 2020 programme, the Regulation aligns the duration of this Regulation with the Council Regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 .

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 15.5.2015. The Regulation shall apply from 1.1.2014.

The European Parliament adopted by 643 votes to 9, with 3 abstentions, in the framework of a special legislative procedure (consent), a legislative resolution on the draft Council regulation extending to the non-participating Member States the application of Regulation (EU) No …/2012 establishing an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (the ‘Pericles 2020’ programme).

Parliament gave its approval to the proposal for the Council Regulation and adopted the proposed text, without amendment.

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs unanimously adopted the report by Juan Agustín DÍAZ DE MERA GARCÍA CONSUEGRA (EPP, ES) on the proposal for a Council Decision extending to the non-participating Member States the application of Regulation (EU) No …/2012 establishing an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (the ‘Pericles 2020’ programme). The report was adopted in the framework of a special legislative procedure (approval of Parliament).

Members recommended that the Parliament give its approval to the proposal for the Council Decision, without amendment.

PURPOSE: to extend to the non-participating Member States the application of the Regulation establishing an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (the 'Pericles 2020' programme).

PROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council which establishes the Pericles 2020 programme and replaces the Pericles programme established by Council Decision 2001/923/EC, provides that it is applicable in the Member States in accordance with the Treaties.

Article 139 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provides that measures governing the use of the euro referred to in Article 133 thereof are not applicable to the Member States with derogation.

However, the exchange of information and staff and the assistance and training measures implemented under the Pericles 2020 programme should be uniform throughout the Union and the requisite measures should therefore be taken to ensure the same level of protection for the euro in the Member States with derogation.

CONTENT: the proposal seeks to extend the application of the Regulation establishing an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (the 'Pericles 2020' programme) to the non-participating Member States.

In order to ensure a smooth transition without interruption between the Pericles programme and the Pericles 2020 programme, it is proposed to align the duration of this Regulation with the Council Regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020. Therefore, this Regulation should apply as from 1 January 2014.

PURPOSE: to extend to the non-participating Member States the application of the Regulation establishing an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (the 'Pericles 2020' programme).

PROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council which establishes the Pericles 2020 programme and replaces the Pericles programme established by Council Decision 2001/923/EC, provides that it is applicable in the Member States in accordance with the Treaties.

Article 139 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provides that measures governing the use of the euro referred to in Article 133 thereof are not applicable to the Member States with derogation.

However, the exchange of information and staff and the assistance and training measures implemented under the Pericles 2020 programme should be uniform throughout the Union and the requisite measures should therefore be taken to ensure the same level of protection for the euro in the Member States with derogation.

CONTENT: the proposal seeks to extend the application of the Regulation establishing an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (the 'Pericles 2020' programme) to the non-participating Member States.

In order to ensure a smooth transition without interruption between the Pericles programme and the Pericles 2020 programme, it is proposed to align the duration of this Regulation with the Council Regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020. Therefore, this Regulation should apply as from 1 January 2014.

PURPOSE: to extend the Pericles 2020 programme on assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting to the Member States of the European Union not yet using the euro as their single currency.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation.

BACKGROUND: the Pericles programme is an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting. The programme was established by Council Decision 2001/923/EC and its effects were extended to the EU Member States that had not adopted the euro as their currency by Council Decision 2001/924/EC. Subsequent amendments to these basic acts by Council Decisions 2006/75/EC, 2006/76/EC, 2006/849/EC and 2006/850/EC have extended the duration of the programme until 31 December 2013.

However, the exchange of information and staff and the assistance and training measures implemented under the Pericles programme should be uniform throughout the Union and the requisite measures should therefore be taken to ensure the same level of protection for the euro in the Member States that do not have the euro as their official currency.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was carried out.

LEGAL BASIS: Article 352 of the TFEU.

CONTENT: this proposed Regulation is presented in parallel to the proposal on the Pericles programme, the Union programme for exchange, assistance and training in the protection of the euro against counterfeiting. The application of the Pericles programme will be extended to the Member States that have not adopted the euro as their single currency, through a proposal for a parallel Regulation based on Article 352 TFEU.

The legal basis for the Pericles programme which is Article 133 TFEU where the Treaty reflects concerns about the protection of the euro by providing for the measures necessary for its use as a single currency is applicable only to Member States which have adopted the euro as their single currency.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: the financial statement on budgetary implications is identical - except for the legal basis - to the financial statement for the proposal on a European Parliament and Council Regulation establishing an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (the 'Pericles 2020' programme).

The overall financial envelope amounts to EUR 7 700 000 at current prices. This proposal is part of the Commission's package linked to the next Multiannual Financial Framework (co-financing EU programme in the context of the 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework) a budget for 2020 .