Press Release: Commission adopts framework for commemorative euro coins

The Commission adopted on 30 September 2003 a Recommendation governing the issuance of commemorative euro coins intended for circulation and the 'standard' national sides of euro coins. The Commission recommended that the current moratorium on the issuance of commemorative euro circulation coins be lifted as of 2004. Euro-area countries should be able, as of 2004, to use the national side of their 2-euro coin to commemorate special events or personalities of European-wide or global importance. On the other hand, the Commission recommends that the 'standard' national sides of euro coins remain unchanged until the end of 2008.