Brussels, 06/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, the Ecofin Council is to adopt a series of conclusions on euro coins, on both to their common sides and, further to a recommendation by the Commission, their national sides (EUROPE 8961). On the national sides, the council subscribes to the Commission's guidelines, which recommend that the name euro, which already features on the common faces, ought to be included on the national side if it is written in a different alphabet. Although the Member States remain free to choose the national side of the normal and commemorative coins they issue, the design has to be notified to the Commission and to the other Member States before being formally approved. On the common faces, the Council wants all future euro coins to be made in an effigy of the new Europe. When they adopt the euro (from 2007 at the earliest), the old Member States and those which joined during the last wave of enlargement will issue coins representing the EU of 25, not just the EU of 15. The common sides of the small coins, (1, 2 and 5 eurocents) will continue to represent Europe in the world. All coins in circulation will remain valid and will not be withdrawn
The ministers also request that forged coins and objects resembling them can be returned to any Member State of the euro zone, which will pay the company or the individual concerned, whatever the national face of the false currency. Standard handling charges will be applied except for small quantities of forged coins. The reimbursement of the coins will be subject to a check on the characteristics of the false coins and their return in adequate packaging.