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Pericles IV programme - establishing an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting for the period 2021-2027

In “New boost for jobs, growth and investment”

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For a brief overview of the key points of the adopted text and its significance for the citizen, please see the corresponding summary note.

The Pericles programme, established by Council Decision 2001/923/EC of 17 December 2001, is an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting. In its proposal (COM(2018)369), based on Art 133 of the TFEU, the Commission proposed to continue the Pericles programme under the post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework. The financial envelope for the implementation of the programme for the period 2021-2027 shall be EUR 7 700 000 in current prices. This amount is in line with the Commission proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework for the period 2021-20271.

The programme has two objectives:

  1. The general objective is to prevent and combat counterfeiting and related fraud, thus enhancing the competitiveness of the Union’s economy and securing the sustainability of public finances;
  2. The specific objective is to protect euro banknotes and coins against counterfeiting and related fraud, by supporting and supplementing the measures undertaken by the Member States and assisting the competent national and Union authorities in their efforts to develop among themselves and with the Commission a close and regular cooperation and an exchange of best practice, where appropriate including third countries and international organisations.

There are three main eligible actions supported by the program:

  • Exchange and dissemination of information
  • Technical, scientific and operational assistance
  • Purchase of equipment to be used by specialised anti-counterfeiting authorities of third countries for protecting the euro against counterfeiting

The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 11, to develop the provisions for a monitoring and evaluation framework, including through amendments to the Annex to review and complement the indicators where necessary for the purposes of evaluation. The Commission shall also provide annual information on the results of the Programme to the European Parliament and to the Council.

On 31 May 2018 the Commission launched a public consultation of 8 weeks (31 May 2018 - 1 August 2018) to gather feedbacks from stakeholders. On 11 June 2018, the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committe (LIBE) referral was announced in Parliament. The draft report of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs was published on 8 November 2018. The amendments proposed in the report were drafted on consideration of the mid-term evaluation of the Pericles 2020 Programme, consisting of an external report, followed by the Commission Communication (COM(2017)741 final) and a Commission Staff Working Document (SWD(2017)444 final). The mid-term evaluation showed two areas of concern: first, lack of participation in the Programme´s activities by Competent National Authorities; second, lack of relevant key performance indicators. The report suggests to involve more closely Member States´ competent national authorities in the setting up of annual work programmes; it also replaces Commission's indicators with by a set of indicators directly measuring the effectiveness of the programme´s activities. On 14 January 2019 the amendments were tabled in committee. On 13 February 2019 the European Parliament adopted its position at first reading, then forwarding its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments. On October 2019, the LIBE Committee announced in plenary its decision to enter into inter-institutional negotiations. On 4 February 2021 the Committee approved the text agreed at early 2nd reading in interinstitutional negotiations.

On 13 April 2021 the Council adopted its position on the proposal, and on 17 May 2021 Parliament declared Council's position at first reading approved without amendments. Therefore, the regulation is deemed to have been adopted in the wording which corresponds to the Council's position at first reading, as provided for in Article 294(7)(a) of the TFEU. The financial envelope for the implementation of the Pericles IV programme for the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2027 has been set at EUR 6 193 284 in current prices. The annual appropriations will be authorised by the European Parliament and the Council within the limits of the multiannual financial framework.

The work programme will be adopted via implementing acts of the Commission. The Commission could also adopt delegated acts in order to develop the provisions concerning the monitoring and evaluation framework, as well as to amend the Annex in order to revise and supplement the indicators where necessary for the purpose of evaluation. At present, the following evaluation indicators have been set: the number of counterfeit euros detected;the number of illegal workshops dismantled; the number of competent authorities applying for the programme; the satisfaction rate of participants in actions financed by the programme; and feedback from participants who have already taken part in previous Pericles actions on the impact of the programme. Concerning the use of funds under the programme, the Regulation provides that the co-financing rate for grants awarded under the  programme may not exceed 75% of the eligible costs (in duly jusitifed, exceptional cases this can rise to 90%). 

The final act - Regulation 2021/840 of 20 May 2021 - was published in the Official Journal on 27 May 2021, and was made applicable retroactively from 1 January 2021. 

References

Further reading:

Author: Rafał Mańko, Members' Research Service, legislative-train@europarl.europa.eu

As of 15/12/2024.