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Subject matter
This Regulation establishes an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (the ‘Pericles IV’ programme), for the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2027. It lays down the objectives of the Pericles IV programme, the budget for the period 2021-2027, the forms of Union funding and the rules for providing such funding.
Programme objectives
1. The general objective of the Pericles IV programme shall be to prevent and combat counterfeiting and related fraud and preserve the integrity of the euro banknotes and coins, thus strengthening the trust of citizens and business in the genuineness of these banknotes and coins and therefore enhancing the trust in the Union’s economy, while securing the sustainability of public finances. 2. The specific objective of the Pericles IV programme shall be to protect euro banknotes and coins against counterfeiting and related fraud, by supporting and supplementing the measures undertaken by 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.
Budget
1. The financial envelope for the implementation of the Pericles IV programme for the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2027 shall be EUR 6 193 284 in current prices. 2. The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the European Parliament and by the Council within the limits of the multiannual financial framework. 3. The amount referred to in paragraph 1 may be used for technical and administrative assistance for the implementation of the Pericles IV programme, such as preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities, including corporate information technology systems.
Implementation and forms of Union funding
1. The Pericles IV programme shall be implemented under direct management in accordance with the Financial Regulation. 2. The Pericles IV programme shall be implemented by the Commission in cooperation with the Member States, through regular consultations at different stages of the implementation of the Pericles IV programme, whilst ensuring consistency and avoiding unnecessary duplication with relevant measures undertaken by other competent entities, in particular the ECB and Europol. To that effect, when preparing the work programmes pursuant to Article 10, the Commission shall take into account existing and planned ECB activities and Europol activities against euro counterfeiting and related fraud. 3. Financial support under the Pericles IV programme for eligible actions listed in Article 6 shall take the form of either grants or public procurement.
Joint actions
1. Actions under the Pericles IV programme may be organised jointly by the Commission and other partners having relevant expertise, such as: (a) the national central banks and the ECB; (b) the National Analysis Centres and the Coin National Analysis Centres; (c) the European Technical and Scientific Centre and the mints; (d) Europol, Eurojust and Interpol; (e) the national central anti-counterfeiting offices provided for in Article 12 of the International Convention for the Suppression of Counterfeiting Currency signed at Geneva on 20 April 1929 ( 21 ) and other agencies specialising in prevention, detection and law-enforcement in connection with counterfeiting; (f) specialist bodies concerned in the field of duplication and certification technologies, printers and engravers; (g) bodies other than those referred to in points (a) to (f) offering specific expertise, including, where appropriate, such bodies from third countries and in particular from acceding States and candidate countries; and (h) private entities that have developed and provided evidence of technical knowledge and teams specialising in detecting counterfeit banknotes and coins. 2. Where eligible actions are organised jointly by the Commission and the ECB, Eurojust, Europol or Interpol, the ensuing expenses shall be divided among them. In any event, each of them shall bear the travel and accommodation costs of its own guest speakers.
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