HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"L 169/8
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
29.6.2012
REGULATIONS
COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) No 566/2012
of 18 June 2012
amending Regulation (EC) No 975/98 on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins
intended for circulation
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
(4)
A clear indication of the name of the issuing Member
State should be put on the national side of the coin in
order to allow interested coin users to easily identify the
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European
issuing Member State.
Union, and in particular Article 128(2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
(5) The
edge
lettering
of
euro
coins
should
be
considered
part of the national side and should therefore not
repeat any indication of the denomination, except for
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament ( 1 ),
the 2-euro coin, and provided that only the figure ‘2’
or the term ‘euro’ in the relevant alphabet, or both, are
used.
Having regard to the opinion of the European Central Bank ( 2 ),
Whereas:
(6) The
designs
on
the
national
side
of
euro
coins
are
decided upon by each Member State whose currency is
the euro and should take into account the fact that euro
(1) Commission
Recommendation
2009/23/EC
of
19
coins circulate in the whole euro area and not only in the
December 2008 on common guidelines for the
issuing Member State. In order to ensure that coins are
national sides and the issuance of euro coins intended
immediately recognisable as euro coins also from their
for circulation ( 3 ), endorsed by the Council conclusions
national side, the design should be fully surrounded by
of 10 February 2009, defines common principles for the
the 12 stars of the Union flag.
designs used for the national sides of euro circulation
coins and establishes procedures whereby Member
States inform each other of draft designs, and for the
approval of these designs.
(7) In
order
to
facilitate
the
recognition
of
circulation
coins
and to ensure appropriate continuity in the minting,
Member States should only be allowed to modify the
(2)
As the euro coins circulate in the whole euro area, their
designs used for the national sides of regular circulation
national design features are a matter of common interest.
coins once every 15 years, except if the Head of State
To permit their smooth circulation and in the interests of
referred to on a coin changes. This should, however, be
legal certainty and transparency it is appropriate that
without prejudice to changes necessary to prevent
the rules defined in Recommendation 2009/23/EC
counterfeiting of the currency. Changes to the design
concerning denominations and technical specifications
of the common European side of circulation coins
of euro circulation coins, be made legally binding by
should be decided by the Council and voting rights
integrating them into Council Regulation (EC) No
should be restricted to Member States whose currency
975/98 ( 4 ).
is the euro.
(3) Euro
coins
have
a
common
European
side
and
a
distinctive national side. The common European sides
of euro coins bear both the name of the single
(8) Individual
Member
States
should
be
allowed
to
issue
currency and the denomination of the coin. The
commemorative coins to celebrate subjects of major
national side should neither repeat the name of the
national or European relevance, whereas commemorative
single currency nor the denomination of the coin.
coins issued collectively by all Member States whose
currency is the euro should be reserved for subjects of
the highest European relevance. The 2-euro coin
( 1 ) Opinion of the European Parliament of 22 May 2012 (not yet
constitutes the most suitable denomination for this
published in the Official Journal).
purpose, principally on account of the large diameter
( 2 ) OJ C 273, 16.9.2011, p. 2.
( 3 ) OJ L 9, 14.1.2009, p. 52.
of the coin and its technical characteristics, which offer
( 4 ) OJ L 139, 11.5.1998, p. 6.
adequate protection against counterfeiting.

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EN
29.6.2012 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
169/9
(9) Taking
into
account
that
euro
coins
circulate
in
the
Article 1c
whole euro area, to avoid the use of inappropriate
designs, issuing Member States should inform each
1. The
national
side
of
circulation
coins
shall
not
repeat
other and the Commission about draft designs for the
any indication of the denomination, or any parts thereof, of
national side of euro coins in advance of the planned
the coin. It shall not repeat the name of the single currency
issue date. The Commission should verify the compliance
or of its subdivision, unless such indication stems from the
of the designs with the technical requirements of this
use of a different alphabet.
Regulation. Submission of draft designs to the
Commission should be made sufficiently in advance of
2. By
derogation
from
paragraph
1,
the
edge
lettering
of
the planned issue date for issuing Member States to
the 2-euro coin may include an indication of the denomi
modify the design if necessary.
nation, provided that only the figure “2” or the term “euro” in
the relevant alphabet, or both, are used.
(10) Furthermore,
uniform
conditions
for
the
approval
of
the
designs of the national sides of euro coins should be laid
down to avoid the choice of designs which could be
Article 1d
considered as inappropriate in some Member States. In
The national side of all denominations of circulation coins
view of the fact that the competence for an issue as
shall bear an indication of the issuing Member State by
sensitive as the design of the national sides of the euro
means of the Member State’s name or an abbreviation of it.
coins belongs to the issuing Member States, imple
menting powers should therefore be conferred on the
Council. Any implementing decisions taken on this
Article 1e
basis by the Council would be closely connected to the
acts adopted by the Council on the basis of Article 128(2)
1. The
national
side
of
circulation
coins
shall
bear
a
circle
of the Treaty; therefore, the suspension of the voting
of 12 stars that shall fully surround the national design,
rights of the members of the Council representing
including the year mark and the indication of the issuing
Member States whose currency is not the euro for the
Member State’s name. This shall not prevent some design
adoption by the Council of those decisions should apply
elements from extending into the circle of stars, provided
as set out in Article 139(4) of the Treaty. The procedure
that the stars are all clearly and fully visible. The 12 stars
should allow the issuing Member States to modify the
shall be depicted as on the Union flag.
design in due time if so required.
2. The
designs
for
the
national
side
of
circulation
coins
(11) Regulation
(EC)
No
975/98
should
therefore
be
amended
shall be chosen taking into account that euro coins circulate
accordingly,
in all Member States whose currency is the euro.
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1f
1. Changes
to
the
designs
used
for
the
national
sides
of
Article 1
regular coins may only be made once every 15 years, without
prejudice to changes necessary to prevent counterfeiting of
Amendment of Regulation (EC) No 975/98
the currency.
In Regulation (EC) No 975/98 the following Articles are
inserted:
2. Without prejudice to paragraph 1, changes to the
designs used for the national sides of regular coins may be
‘Article 1a
made where the Head of State referred to on a coin changes.
However, a temporary vacancy or the provisional occupation
For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions
of the function of Head of State shall not give any additional
shall apply:
right to such change.
1. “circulation coins” means euro coins intended for circu
Article 1g
lation, the denominations and technical specifications of
which are laid down in Article 1;
Issuing Member States shall update their national sides of
regular coins in order to fully comply with this Regulation
by 20 June 2062.
2. “regular coins” means circulation coins excluding
commemorative coins;
Article 1h
3. “commemorative coins” means circulation coins, which
1. Commemorative
coins
shall
bear
a
different
national
are intended to commemorate a specific subject as
design from that of the regular coins and shall only
specified in Article 1h.
commemorate subjects of major national or European
relevance. Commemorative coins issued collectively by all
Article 1b
Member States whose currency is the euro shall only
commemorate subjects of the highest European relevance
Circulation coins shall have a common European side and a
and their design shall be without prejudice to the possible
distinctive national side.
constitutional requirements of these Member States.

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L 169/10
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
29.6.2012
2. The
edge
lettering
on
commemorative
coins
shall
be
the
6. If
no
reasoned
opinion
or
negative
assessment
has
been
same as on regular coins.
submitted to the Council within the time limit referred to in
paragraphs 4 and 5 respectively, the decision approving the
3. Commemorative
coins
may
only
have
a
face
value
of
2
design is deemed to be adopted by the Council on the day
euro.
following the expiry of the time limit referred to in paragraph
5.
Article 1i
1. Member
States
shall
inform
each
other
of
the
draft
7. In
all
other
cases,
the
Council
shall
decide
without
delay
designs of new national sides of circulation coins, including
on the approval of the draft design, unless, within seven days
the edge letterings, and, for commemorative coins, on the
following the submission of a reasoned opinion or of a
estimated volume of issuance, before the formal approval
negative assessment, the issuing Member State withdraws its
of those designs.
submission and informs the Council of its intention to
submit a new draft design.
2. The
power
to
approve
designs
for
new
or
modified
national sides of circulation coins shall be conferred on the
8. All
relevant
information
on
new
national
circulation
Council acting by qualified majority in accordance with the
coin designs shall be published by the Commission in the
procedure set out in paragraphs 3 to 7.
Official Journal of the European Union.
When taking the decisions referred to in this Article, the
voting rights of the Member States whose currency is not
Article 1j
the euro shall be suspended.
Articles 1c, 1d, 1e and 1h(2):
3. For
the
purpose
of
paragraph
1,
draft
designs
of
circu
lation coins shall be submitted by the issuing Member State
(a) shall not apply to circulation coins which have been
to the Council, to the Commission and to the other Member
issued or produced prior to 19 June 2012;
States whose currency is the euro, in principle at least three
months before the planned issue date.
(b) shall, during a transitional period ending on 20 June
2062, not apply to the designs that are already legally
4. Within seven days following the submission referred to
in use on circulation coins on 19 June 2012. Circulation
in paragraph 3, any Member State whose currency is the euro
coins that have been issued or produced during the tran
may, in a reasoned opinion addressed to the Council and to
sitional period may remain legal tender without limit in
the Commission, raise an objection to the draft design
time.’.
proposed by the issuing Member State if that draft design
is likely to create adverse reactions among its citizens.
Article 2
5. Where the Commission considers that the draft design
Entry into force
does not respect the technical requirements set out by this
Regulation, it shall, within seven days following the
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day
submission referred to in paragraph 3, submit a negative
following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the
assessment to the Council.
European Union.
It shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in the Member States in accordance
with the Treaties.
Done at Luxembourg, 18 June 2012.
For the Council
The President
M. GJERSKOV

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