Press Release: Commission steps up efforts to reinforce the protection of the Euro against counterfeiting

The Commission has adopted a package of measures designed to strengthen the protection against counterfeiting of Euro banknotes and coins: The Commission proposes to make it mandatory for banks and related establishments to ensure the authenticity of Euro banknotes and coins before these are put back into circulation. The Commission also adopted a report that shows that Member States have largely satisfactorily implemented their obligations with regard to criminal penalties against Euro counterfeiting. The Commission now releases its 2006 report on the protection of Euro coins against fraud and counterfeiting, detailing the efforts to remove counterfeits from circulation and including recommendations of what more can be done in terms of cooperation.