Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2006-09-26-Speech-2-337"
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"en.20060926.27.2-337"2
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"Mr President, allow me first to express my sincere gratitude to the rapporteur, Mr Díaz de Mera García Consuegra, for his support for the Commission’s proposal for the extension of the Pericles programmes. Pericles, a Community programme for exchange, assistance and training in the protection of the euro against counterfeiting, was established by a Council decision in 2001 and is designed to support and supplement the measures undertaken by the Member States to protect the euro against counterfeiting.
With an initial duration of four years – 2002 to 2005 – it had a total reference amount of EUR 4 million. The Pericles programme covers a broad range of actions organised not just within the EU, but also in third or candidate countries. Its action incorporates diversified target groups and participants, covering all the areas relevant to the protection of the euro – law enforcement, judicial, financial and technical – and promoting the creation of networks useful in achieving greater efficiency in the fight against the crime of counterfeiting. In addition, Pericles assists the increased effectiveness of cooperation between law enforcement agents and representatives of the judiciary and financial institutions. Nevertheless, the counterfeiting of euros remains a serious and especially a symbolic problem, even if its proportions are not alarming.
Since early summer 2003, the number of counterfeit euro banknotes detected in circulation has stabilised at about 50 000 a month, a level below the pre-euro levels, lower than the US dollar and extremely low compared to the 9 million genuine euro banknotes in circulation. The number of counterfeit euro coins also remains low by historical standards. Recently police forces have successfully conducted a number of operations to dismantle workshops and seize large numbers of counterfeit banknotes and coins before they enter into circulation.
The Pericles programme is playing a significant role in achieving results in the protection of the euro and the fight against the crime of counterfeiting. There is clearly a need for continued joint efforts to combat this form of crime.
The Pericles programme has recently been evaluated. The evaluators concluded that the programme did indeed improve awareness, its target groups have been reached, especially law enforcement officials, and its activities and information exchanges were considered relevant to the objectives of the programme.
Based on the positive evaluation of Pericles and the continued need, in 2005 the Commission proposed the extension of the programme. Pending an agreement on the Community financial perspectives for the period 2007-2013, the Council initially decided to extend the Pericles programme for one year only, until 2006, but made a political commitment to the continuation of the programme. Consequently, building on the success the programme has demonstrated, in May 2006 the Commission tabled a proposal for a Council decision concerning the extension of the Pericles programme for the period 2007-2013. The yearly amount remains unchanged, approximately EUR 1 million, leading to an overall reference amount of EUR 7 million. The Commission’s proposal for extension until 2013 also reflects the practical convenience of fitting in with the duration of the Community’s financial framework.
Once more I would like to thank Parliament, and in particular the rapporteur, for their attention to the protection of this important element of the common European identity and heritage that is its common currency. The public authorities at national and European level, as well as industry, have to keep up their efforts and continue cooperation and the exchange of know-how. It is through our combined efforts that we will be able to protect the interests of tradesmen, consumers and the economy in general against illicit gain from the counterfeiting of our money."@en1
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