29/04/2026 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 29 April, the Member States’ ambassadors to the EU (Coreper) approved a negotiating mandate from the Council of the EU on the fifth version of the ‘Pericles’ programme, which aims to protect the euro against counterfeiting. A draft regulation, part of the EU’s long-term post-2028 budget, was proposed by the European Commission in September 2025 (see EUROPE 13701/12). In the context of the ongoing negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework, which includes the ‘Pericles’ programme, the negotiating mandate approved by Coreper is intended to be “partial”. It is due to be announced at the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Ecofin) on Tuesday 5 May, paving the way for the start of negotiations with the European Parliament (trilogue). See the legislative texts relating to the ‘Pericles V’ programme: https://aeur.eu/f/lr0 (BD)