Luxembourg, 16/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - Monday's EcoFin Council adopted conclusion on the changeover to the euro by which it urges Member States to set up early December, in collaboration with the Commission, the ECB and Eurosystem, a European network to manage information on the changeover to the euro during the period that banknotes and coins in euro are being introduced. The members of the Economic and Financial Committee (EFC) will have to appoint a participant from each Member State to be part of the network and who will provide "at close intervals", by answering a short questionnaire, information on the state of progress in the preparations for the changeover to the euro in their country. A co-ordinating team, set up by the Commission, will compile and analyse the data handed to it, and the EFC will make recommendations o the EcoFin Council in case of problems raised by this operation of the changeover to the euro. Ministers welcomed the Commission report (see EUROPE of 10 October, p.6), and said they were "reassured" to note that the pre-supply of banks and businesses was moving satisfactorily and were resolved to "act to facilitate the changeover to the euro". They undertook to take the measures necessary in view: - of improving information of SMEs, local authorities and citizens; - help retailers manage the practical aspects of the introduction of the euro and encourage them to participate in the pre-supply and train their staff in handling the new notes and coins; - facilitate the rapid distribution of the new banknotes and coins from 1 January already, notably by the almost immediate adaptation of automatic distributors. Ministers said that they would "envisage, if need be, depending on national situations", implementing the good practices defined in the Commission's report. Finally, the Council adopted conclusions on measures to take to allow for the provision of coins in euro to manufacturers of machines, so that they may perform trials.