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2005/37/EC: Commission Decision of 29 October 2004 establishing the European Technical and Scientific Centre (ETSC) and providing for coordination of technical actions to protect euro coins against counterfeiting

Type Decision

Publication 2005-01-21

Last updated 2023-04-09

State In force

Department European Commission

Source EUR-Lex

articles 4

Reform history JSON API

Article 1

The European Technical and Scientific Centre (ETSC) is established within DG ECFIN in Brussels.

For the application of this Decision, the Director-General of DG ECFIN is empowered to take the necessary actions and to conclude administrative arrangements with authorities of third countries and private entities enabling the ETSC to carry out its tasks. Those administrative arrangements may concern, in particular, the transmission and exchange of technical information.

Article 2

The ETSC shall perform the following tasks:

(a) analyse and classify every new type of counterfeit euro coin in accordance with Article 5(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001;

(b) contribute to the fulfilment of the objectives of the Pericles 2020 programme pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 331/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council ([^E0001]);

(c) carry out the tasks under Articles 4, 5, 7 and 12 of Regulation (EU) No 1210/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council ([^E0002]) and under Articles 2, 4, 5 and 6 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2182/2004 ([^E0003]);

(d) assist the Coin National Analysis Centres (CNAC) and the law-enforcement authorities and collaborates with the relevant authorities in the analysis of counterfeit euro coins and the strengthening of protection;

(e) perform advanced and non-destructive analysis of high quality counterfeit euro coins to inform Europol and law enforcement authorities of emerging threats.

Article 3

In accomplishing its functions, the ETSC shall carry out a preliminary technical analysis in Brussels, and a complementary analysis may be carried out at the French Coin National Analysis Centre established within the French Mint.

DG ECFIN shall make available to the ETSC the appropriate technical equipment in order to carry out non-destructive analysis in Brussels with a view to identifying and responding in a timely manner to upcoming threats related to high quality counterfeit euro coins.

The ETSC shall use the personnel and equipment of the French Mint for the necessary complementary analysis carried out in its premises. The French authorities shall place the appropriate personnel and equipment at the disposal of the ETSC as a priority. The French authorities shall be responsible for the maintenance of the technical equipment at the French Mint.

The costs for ETSC personnel and the necessary technical equipment for carrying out its tasks in Brussels shall be charged to the Union budget. The expenses related to the costs of ETSC personnel’s missions to Pessac and justified sundry minor expenses that may occur while using the technical equipment at the laboratory of the French Mint shall be covered by the Union budget.

DG ECFIN may define, in cooperation with the French Mint, the administrative modalities applicable to the ETSC, when using the technical equipment of the French Mint.

Article 4

The Commission shall coordinate the necessary actions to protect euro coins against counterfeiting and ensure an effective and uniform implementation of the authentication procedures in the euro area, inter alia, through periodic meetings with Europol and counterfeit coin experts.

The Economic and Financial Committee, the European Central Bank, Europol and the competent national authorities shall be kept regularly informed of the ETSC’s activities and of the situation as regards coin counterfeiting.

[^E0001]: Regulation (EU) No 331/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (the ‘Pericles 2020’ programme) and repealing Council Decisions 2001/923/EC, 2001/924/EC, 2006/75/EC, 2006/76/EC, 2006/849/EC and 2006/850/EC (OJ L 103, 5.4.2014, p. 1).

[^E0002]: Regulation (EU) No 1210/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 2010 concerning authentication of euro coins and handling of euro coins unfit for circulation (OJ L 339, 22.12.2010, p. 1).

[^E0003]: Council Regulation (EC) No 2182/2004 of 6 December 2004 concerning medals and tokens similar to euro coins (OJ L 373, 21.12.2004, p. 1)

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