The European Monetary Institute (EMI) carried out the preparatory work for the production and issue of euro banknotes, and in particular with regard to the euro banknote designs, it facilitated the recognition and acceptance of the new euro banknote denominations and specifications by users by taking into account the specific visual and technical requirements of European associations of banknote users.

As successor to the EMI the ECB holds the copyright on the designs of the euro banknotes originally held by the EMI. The ECB and the NCBs, acting on behalf of the ECB, may enforce this copyright with regard to reproductions issued or distributed in breach of this copyright, such as, inter alia, reproductions which might adversely affect the standing of euro banknotes.

The ECB and the NCBs will, from time to time, introduce a new series of euro banknotes with enhanced security features, benefiting from advances in banknote technology since the first series was introduced.

This Decision should be without prejudice to the application of criminal law, in particular regarding counterfeiting.

Reproductions of euro banknotes in electronic form should only be regarded as lawful if the producer thereof adopts adequate technical measures to deter print-outs, where the general public might mistake the print-outs for genuine euro banknotes.

The competence to take measures to protect the integrity of genuine euro banknotes as a means of payment includes the competence to adopt a common regime under which the NCBs are prepared to exchange damaged genuine euro banknotes. Under this regime certain categories of euro banknotes are designated which should be withheld by NCBs when presented to them for exchange.

The part of the original euro banknote that needs to be presented in order to qualify for exchange is subject to minimum measurement requirements. These measurements should be expressed as a percentage of the surface area of the original euro banknote before it was damaged, in order to prevent the distortion of measurements, for instance in situations where the euro banknote is damaged due to shrinkage.

Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001 requires credit institutions and, within the limits of their payment activity, other payment service providers and any other institutions engaged in the processing and distribution to the public of notes and coins, to ensure that euro notes and coins which they have received and which they intend to put back into circulation are checked for authenticity and that counterfeits are detected.

Given that damaging of genuine euro banknotes by anti-theft devices may occur in the context of a committed or attempted criminal offence, it should be ensured that in such cases banknotes can only be exchanged by the victim of such offence or attempted offence.

To encourage the proper handling of anti-theft devices by all institutions and economic agents referred to in Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001, it is appropriate for NCBs to charge the banknote handlers a fee to compensate for the analysis performed with regard to the exchange of genuine euro banknotes that have been damaged by anti-theft devices.

This fee should not be charged when the damage results from an attempted or actual robbery or theft, and, to avoid insignificant fees, should be charged only where a minimum number of damaged genuine euro banknotes is presented for exchange.

Genuine euro banknotes which have been damaged in bulk due to the activation of anti-theft devices should be presented for exchange, if required by NCBs, in sets consisting of a minimum number of euro banknotes.

To support endeavours to enhance the security of the cash cycle and to avoid penalising the use of anti-theft devices, it is appropriate to credit the institutions and economic agents, referred to in Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001, who present for exchange genuine euro banknotes accidentally damaged by anti-theft devices, on the day of receipt of such banknotes, in a manner similar to regular cash lodgements.

The ECB’s exclusive right to authorise the issue of euro banknotes within the Union includes the competence to withdraw euro banknotes and to establish a common regime under which the ECB and the NCBs can perform this withdrawal,