Brussels, 27/04/2001 (Agence Europe) - Eurogroup President Didier Reynders cut short the debate on the availability to the public of euro notes before 1 January 2002 by declaring, on Wednesday, that the matter was closed. He recalled, in answer to a journalist, that the decision had long since been taken by the European Central Bank (ECB) even though he and his French counterpart, Laurent Fabius, urged for small notes to be distributed before the date set for changeover.
Nicole Fontaine, President of the European Parliament, and Christa Randzio-Plath, Chair of the Economic and Monetary Committee, recently appealed to the Swedish Presidency and to Wim Duisenberg, ECB President, for notes of 5 and 10 euros to be made available before the deadline date. Neither have so far given a reply. "I am pleased that the European Parliament is finally showing an interest in the question of when the euro comes out, but the ECB does not wish for early distribution. On the other hand, the distribution of coin kits will be carried out", said Mr Reynders.
The ECB expresses concern about the risks of forgery. On Thursday, Arnd Huchzermeier, from the Beisheim Graduate School of Management in Vallendar, Germany, warned the members of the European Parliament Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs against the "chaos that will occur on 1 January 2002 when many small shops in Germany find they are forced to close their shops half an hour after opening and taxi drivers will be forced to stop work because there is a shortage of change".