Protection of the euro against counterfeiting

Closed

Programme Category

EU Competitive Programmes

Programme Name

Pericles IV Programme (Protection of the Euro against Counterfeiting Programme) (2021-2027)

Programme Description

Pericles IV Programme (follow-up to the Pericles 2020 programme) funds staff exchanges, seminars, trainings and studies for law enforcement and judicial authorities, banks and others involved in combating euro-counterfeiting. Actions can take place in the euro area, in EU countries outside the euro area and in third countries.

Programme Details

Identifier Code

PERI-2023-ANTI-COUNTERFEIT

Call

Protection of the euro against counterfeiting

Summary

The present call aims to:

  • support and supplement the measures undertaken by the Member States and
  • assist the competent national and authorities in their efforts to develop among themselves and with the European Commission a close and regular cooperation and an exchange of best practices, where appropriate including third countries and international organisations.

Detailed Call Description

The call implements the priorities of the Pericles IV Programme for 2023, i.e.:

  • Supporting activities aimed at improving cooperation among Member States which are particularly affected by the production and distribution of counterfeits.
  •  Fostering cooperation with authorities of third countries where there is suspicion of, or evidence for, counterfeit euro production.
  •  Maintaining an efficient framework for the protection of the euro in South Eastern Europe.
  • Topical developments
    •  Distribution of counterfeits and high quality components on the darknet, and ‘movie money’ and ‘prop copy’ products online (including altered design notes)
    • Support for the establishment / reinforcement of national central offices (NCOs)
    •  Euro coins: Fight against high qualtiy classes of counterfeits, implementation of Regulation (EU) No 1210/2010 and handling of euro coins unfit for circulation

Target groups –  Projects should take into account the transnational and multidisciplinary aspects of the fight against counterfeiting and may cover activities in non-EU countries and target groups from non-EU countries. Moreover, projects should target the following groups:

  • staff of agencies engaged in detecting and combating counterfeiting, in particular police forces, customs and financial administrations, depending on their specific functions at national level
  • intelligence personnel
  • representatives of the national central banks, the mints, commercial banks and other financial intermediaries, in particular as regards the obligations of financial institutions
  •  judicial officers, specialist lawyers and members of the judiciary in this field
  • any other group of specialists concerned, such as chambers of commerce and industry or comparable structures capable of providing access to small and medium-sized enterprises, retailers and cash-in-transit companies.

Call Total Budget

€400 000. This budget might be increased by maximum 20%.

Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan

75%

You can apply for a higher project funding rate (90%) if your project is a ‘priority action’, i.e. concerns:

  • conferences, seminars and workshops taking place in one of the following nonEU countries: China, Columbia, Peru or Türkiye (see also Pericles IV 2023 Strategy, priority action c).
  • actions specifically devoted to the distribution of counterfeits and high quality components on the darknet, and ‘movie money’ and ‘prop copy’ products online, including altered design notes (see also Pericles IV 2023 Strategy, priority action d.I).
  • actions introduced by competent national authorities that did not apply for Pericles funding in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Thematic Categories

  • Economy-Finances

Eligibility for Participation

  • Financial Institutions
  • Large Enterprises
  • Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
  • State-owned Enterprises

Eligibility For Participation Notes

In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:

  • be competent national authorities in the area of the protection of the euro against counterfeiting
  • be from a Euro area or non-Euro area Member State

Competent national authorities in the area of the protection of the euro against counterfeiting.

Consortium composition
Only applications by single applicants are allowed (single beneficiaries; affiliated entities and other participants are allowed, if needed.

Financial support to third parties is not allowed.

Call Opening Date

15/02/2023

Call Closing Date

14/09/2023

National Contact Point(s)

1. The Central Bank of Cyprus

Currency Section
80 Kennedy Avenue,
1076 Nicosia
CYPRUS
Telephone: +357 22714165
Fax: +357 22714941
Email: ncccy@centralbank.gov.cy

2. The Cyprus Police Forensic Science Laboratory

Criminalistic Services
Police Headquarters
1478 Nicosia
CYPRUS
Telephone: +357 22607240-45
Fax: +357 22808936
Emailforensiclab@police.gov.cy

Published Date: 17/03/2023 – for internal use only)

EU Contact Point