Brussels, 13/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - According to a press release from the European Central Bank (ECB) on Monday 13 July, during the first half of 2009 a total of 413,000 counterfeit euro banknotes were withdrawn from circulation. This is an increase of around 17% on the quantity recovered in the previous six months. The most counterfeited banknote was the €20, which accounted for 48.5% of all counterfeits withdrawn, notes of €50 accounted for 34% and €100 notes 13.5%. €5, €10, €200 and €500 notes represented 0.5%, 1% and 0.5% respectively of all notes seized. The ECB explained that there were around 12.5 million false notes in circulation. Most counterfeits (more than 98%) were withdrawn in the first half of 2009 in the eurozone. Only 1% of counterfeit notes were found in EU member states not belonging to the eurozone and less than 0.5% in other regions of the world. (O.L./transl.rh)