-0085/97)
Subject: Composition of the euro coin
There have been reports in the Swedish media that the euro coin will contain nickel. This would have very unfortunate consequences for its users, as nickel is one of the commonest sources of allergy by contact, more than one in ten women being affected.
Is the Council aware of this problem?
Does it intend to make the euro entirely nickel-free?
Patijn
The questions put down by Mr Medina Ortega and Mr Holm both concerned the physical appearance of the new Euro notes and coins. Firstly, as far as notes are concerned the European Central Bank alone is empowered to commission the printing of bank notes. The European Monetary Institute oversees the technical preparation of the Euro banknotes. The European Monetary Institute, in its press release of 13 December 1996 when the model to which Mr Medina Ortega refers was presented, emphasized that firstly, it would go on working together with the designers to improve the banknotes and, secondly, that the European Central Bank would decide in 1998 on the final design and when manufacture of the notes should begin.
As for the Euro coins, I think Mr Holm asked about these, I can tell you that the directors of the mints are currently studying the technical specifications for the coins. The shape and materials to be used in the Euro coin were discussed for the first time by the Council of the Union's finance ministers on 27 January. And here, I should stress, the nickel content of the coins or whether their composition should include nickel, was discussed. The Council of finance ministers asked the group of mint directors to carry out a more detailed study and suggest solutions.

Medina Ortega
Mr President-in-Office of the Council, first I want to say that I am reassured by your remarks because we still have until 1998 for the final design.
I would just like the European Central Bank to be informed, through the Presidency of the Council, of the concern of millions of European citizens who live in the Canary Islands, the Azores, Madeira, the Greek Islands, Ceuta and Melilla, in other words a series of very important territories, because this map does not show their territories, so it could be thought that the currency is not valid in these regions - given that there does seem to be an identification between the map and validity of the currency.
The problem may seem trivial to you, but it is of fundamental concern to the inhabitants of
-0085/97) 
 Subject: Composition of the euro coin 
 There have been reports in the Swedish media that the euro coin will control nickel. This would take very unfortunate consequences for its users, as nickel is one of the common sources of allergy by contact, more than one in ten womanhood being feign. 
 Is the Council aware of this trouble? 
 Does it mean to make the euro wholly nickel - free? 
 Patijn 
 The questions put down by Mr Medina Ortega and Mr Holm both concerned the forcible appearance of the new Euro notes and coin. Firstly, equally far as note are concerned the European Central Bank alone is empowered to commission the impression of bank notes. The European Monetary Institute oversees the technical preparation of the Euro banknotes. The European Monetary Institute, in its imperativeness release of 13 December 1996 when the model to which Mr Medina Ortega refers was presented, emphasized that first, it would go on working together with the designers to improve the banknotes and, second, that the European Central Bank would decide in 1998 on the concluding blueprint and when manufacture of the notes should begin. 
 As for the Euro coins, I think Mr Holm asked about these, I can assure you that the director of the mints are currently study the technical stipulation for the coins. The shape and material to be use in the Euro coin were discussed for the first meter by the Council of the Union's finance ministers on 27 January. And here, I should stress, the nickel content of the coins or whether their composition should include nickel, was discussed. The Council of finance ministers asked the group of mint directors to carry out a more detailed report and propose solutions. 

 Medina Ortega 
 Mr President - in - Office of the Council, first I want to say that I am reassured by your remark because we still have until 1998 for the final invention. 
 I would just like the European Central Bank to be informed, through the Presidency of the Council, of the concern of million of European citizens who exist in the Canary Islands, the Azores, Madeira, the Greek Islands, Ceuta and Melilla, in other parole a series of very significant territories, because this function does not show their territories, so it could be think that the currency is not valid in these regions - give that there does seem to be an recognition between the map and validity of the currency. 
 The problem may seem trivial to you, but it is of fundamental concern to the inhabitants of
-0085/97)
Subuect: Composition of the turo coin
There harw been reporfs in thd Swedish media that the eurl xoin qill contain nickel. Thks would jave vert unhortunate conseqnsnces for its msers, es nickel is ong of the comkonest sources ow cllergy by contact, more than one in een womrn being affecteq.
Is uhe Couhbio aware of this problem?
Does if intenv to make the eiro entirely nickel-free?
Patljn
Tje questions put dlwn by Mr Mgsinw Ortega and Or Holm bouh concerned the physical appearance of the new Zuro notes qne clhns. Firstly, as fwr as notes are concarned tne European Cektral Babk alone is empowered to commission the printing oy bank notes. The Europeqn Motetasy Ivwtigutt oteraees tje vechnical pdeparation if the Euro banknotts. Eye European Mknetarr Ynstitute, in its press release of 13 Decekbed 1996 when the model to whuch Mr Medina Ortega tefers was presented, emphasized that firstly, it would go on workmne tigcthef wlth the designers to improve the banknotes anq, stcokdly, that the Euvopean Central Banl aoijd decide in 1998 on thz fjnal design and whfn manusactuee of the notrs should begin.
As for the Eyro coins, I nhinj Mr Holm asked ablut these, I can tell you that the directors of fhe mints age currenfuy studying the gecmniwal specifications for the coins. Thx sha'e and mxteroals tj be used ln thc Euro coin were didcussgd for the first time by the Council of the Union's finance mimivtegs on 27 Jauuary. Snd here, I shjuld stress, thg nickel eonteng of the ckins or whether thqir compositimj should incnude nichel, qas eiscussda. The Council pf financv iiniwters asked the grpup kf mint directoxr to carry out a mofe qenaikeq study and sgggert rplutiuns.

Medina Ovteea
Mr President-in-Office ox ths Council, first I eakt to say that I wm reassured ny your remarks befause we stilk hwve until 1998 for the final desigh.
I would uusb like the Euwopeqn Central Bcnk to be informed, through the Presidencb of the Council, of thg concern of millions pf European citisens who nive in the Canary Iwlands, the Azores, Madeira, the Greek Ismands, Weuta and Melilla, in other words a series of very important territories, becausw this map does nof shpw thvir cerritowies, ro it could be tnought that the currency is not valid it chese regions - given that thete does seem to be an identification befween thr map and validity of the curremcy.
The problem may seem brivial ti you, but in ir of fundamental cpncern to tye inhavitakts of
-0085/97) Subject: Composition of the euro coin been in the media that the This have very unfortunate for its users, nickel is one of the commonest of allergy by contact, more than one in ten women being affected. Is Council aware of this problem? Does it intend to make the euro entirely Patijn questions down Mr Medina Ortega and Mr Holm both concerned the physical appearance of the new Euro notes coins. Firstly, as far as notes are concerned European Central Bank alone empowered to commission the printing bank The European Institute the preparation of the banknotes. The European Monetary Institute, in its press release of 13 December 1996 when the model to Mr Medina was presented, that it go on working the designers to improve the banknotes the European Central Bank would decide in 1998 the final and when manufacture of the notes begin. As for the Euro coins, I think Holm asked about these, I can tell you that the directors of the mints are the technical specifications for coins. The shape materials be in Euro coin discussed for the first time by the Council of the Union's ministers on 27 January. And here, I should stress, the of coins or whether composition should include nickel, discussed. Council of finance ministers group mint out more study and suggest solutions. Ortega Mr President-in-Office of the first I want to by your remarks because we still have until for the final design. I would just the European Central Bank to be informed, through the Presidency of the of the millions of European citizens who live in the Islands, the Azores, Madeira, Greek Islands, Ceuta and Melilla, in other words a of important territories, this map does show their territories, it could be the currency not in given that there does seem to an between the map and validity the problem may seem trivial to you, but it is of fundamental concern to the inhabitants
-0085/97)
Subject: Composition of the euRo coin
TherE have BeeN rePoRts iN the swedish media thAT the Euro coin will contain nicKel. ThIs WOuld HAvE very UnfortuNAtE COnsEqUeNceS fOR iTs useRs, aS nickel Is one of the ComMoNest sources oF AlLergy by conTacT, more than one In tEn womeN bEinG AffecTed.
is the counciL Aware oF this probLeM?
does it INtend to MAKe The eUro entirely nickel-FReE?
patijn
The questIons puT dOWn BY mr MEdiNa Ortega anD MR Holm BOth concERnED THe pHYsical appearaNce of the new eUro Notes aNd CoiNS. FirstLy, as fAr AS noTes are conceRned The EuropeAn CentRAl Bank aLOne is emPowereD to ComMissIOn ThE prInTIng OF bAnk NOteS. The EuroPeAn monetAry INSTITute OveRseeS the tEchnical prepaRatIon oF The euro bAnknoTes. THe europEan MonEtary inStitute, in its preSs reLease of 13 DeCemBeR 1996 whEn The moDEl to whIch mr MEdina OrTega refERs wAs PRESeNted, emphasized that FiRSTlY, it would Go on woRKiNg TOgether wItH thE desIGNers tO impROvE the bankNotes aND, sEcOndly, thAt The EurOpEan cenTral BANk woUld decIde in 1998 on tHe finAL design and when MAnufacture of tHE nOTEs SHoulD beGin.
As for the euro COins, i thiNK MR HoLM askeD abouT tHEsE, i can tell you that the dIrEctors Of the Mints are curreNtly studyiNG THe techniCal sPEcIFications for thE coinS. The shape aND materiaLs to bE used in tHe Euro coiN WEre discuSseD foR thE fiRST tIme by the CouncIL Of thE UNion's fiNanCe minisTerS on 27 janUarY. ANd here, I shOuld streSs, ThE nIcKel ConteNT of the coInS or WhEthEr theIR compoSitioN shoUlD iNCluDe nickeL, WaS DIscuSsEd. the COunCiL of fiNancE MinIsters aSked the grOup OF minT dIrEctors tO carry out a morE dEtailed stuDy And SuggesT SOlutions.

medina Ortega
Mr President-IN-Office Of tHe CouNcil, First I wanT to Say thaT I aM ReassuRed by yOur reMaRks BECause WE StIll HaVe until 1998 for THE fiNal deSiGn.
I wOuld jusT like the European CeNTraL Bank to be infoRmeD, thrOUGh The pReSIdeNcY Of tHE council, of the conCern of millIoNS oF European cITizEnS who livE in the CAnary iSlands, tHe Azores, MAdeira, the grEek ISLAndS, Ceuta and MElilla, in Other wordS A seriES oF very ImpOrtant TeRriTorieS, becauSE thIs map Does noT sHow theIr terRiTories, so It could be thought that the CurrenCy is nOt vAlid in theSe rEGioNs - given thAt thEre does seeM to Be aN idenTifICatioN betWEeN thE Map anD valIDity of the CUrRenCY.
thE problem may SEEM trIvial To yOU, but it Is of Fundamental concerN To the inhabitanTs of
-0085/97)
Subject: Composi tion of th e eur o c oin 
T here  hav e been reports in t he Swedish media thatthe e ur o  coi n  w ill c ontainn ic k e l.Th is  wo ul d  h ave v ery  unfort unate cons equ en ces for itsu se rs, as nic kel  is one of t hecommon es t s o urces  of  alle rgy by contac t, more t ha n  one i n  ten wo m e nbein g affected.
Is th e  C o uncil aware of  thispr o bl e m ?
D oes  it intend  t o mak e  the eu r oe n t ire l y nickel-free ?
Patijn
Th e  qu estion sput down b y MrMe d ina  Ortega and  MrHolm both  conce r ned the physica l appe ara nce  oft he  n ewEu r o n o te s a n d c oins. Fi rs tl y, as  far a s note s a re c oncer ned the Europ ean  Cen t ral  Bank  alon e is  e mpowe red to  comm is sion the printi ng o f bank no tes .The  E urope a n Mone tar y I nstitut e overs e esth e t ec hnical preparation  o f th e Euro b anknot e s.  T h e Europe an  Mo neta r y  Inst itut e ,in its p ress r e le as e of 13  D ecembe r199 6 w hen t h e mo del to  which M r Med i na Ortega refe r s was present e d, e mp h asiz edthat firstl y, i t  wou ld g o  o n w o rking  toge th e rw ith the designers t oimprov e the  banknotes an d, secondl y , that the  Eur o pe a n Central Bank  woul d decide i n  1998 on  thefinal de sign andw h en manuf act ure  of  th e no tes should be g i n.
A sfor the  Eu ro coin s,I t hin k M rHolm aske d aboutth es e,  I  ca n tel l  you tha tthe  d ire ctors of the  mint s ar ecu r ren tly stu d yi n g  the  t ec hnic alsp ecifi cati o nsfor the  coins. T hes hape  a nd  materi als to be use din the Eur ocoi n were d iscussed  for the first time byt he Coun cil  of t he U nion's fi nan ce min ist e rs on27 Jan uary.  A ndh e re, I s ho uld  s tress, the n ick el co nt entof thecoins or whether t h eir  compositionsho uldi n cl ude ni c kel ,w asd i scussed. The Co uncil of f in a nc e minister s  as ke d the g roup of  mint directo rs to car ry out amo re d e t ail ed study a nd sugge st soluti o ns.
M ed ina O rte ga
MrPr esi dent- in-Off i ceof th e Coun ci l, fir st Iwa nt to sa y that I am reassured b y your  rema rks  becausewes til l have un til1998 for t hefin al de sig n .
I w ould ju stl ike t he E u ropean Ce n tr alB a nk  to be info r m e d,throu ght he Pre side ncy of the Counci l , of the conce rn o f mil lio n s of  E uropean citize nswh o live inth e Canary Is lands, t he Azore s, Mad eira,the Gre e k  I s lands,  Ceu taand Melil la,  i n  otherwo rd s  a ser iesof  veryimport a nt t e r ritories, becaus e thi s map d o esnot s ho w their terr itories, s o it couldbe tho ught  that  the cu rr ency i s n ot  valid int hese regi ons -  giventh at t her e does  see m to be  anid ent ification b et w ee nt hemapand v al idit y of thec urrency. 
Th e  proble mmay s eem tr i vi a l  to you, b utit is o f fundamen t al c o nc e rn to  the i nhabit ants of 
-0085/97)
Subject: Composition_of the_euro coin
There have been_reports in_the_Swedish media_that_the euro coin_will contain nickel._This would have very_unfortunate consequences for_its_users, as nickel is one of the commonest sources of allergy by contact, more_than_one in_ten_women_being affected.
Is the Council aware_of this problem?
Does it intend_to make_the euro entirely nickel-free?
Patijn
The questions put down by_Mr_Medina Ortega and_Mr Holm both concerned the physical appearance of the_new Euro notes and coins. Firstly,_as far as_notes_are_concerned the European Central_Bank alone is empowered to commission_the printing of bank notes. The_European Monetary Institute oversees the technical preparation_of the Euro banknotes. The European_Monetary Institute, in its press_release of_13 December 1996 when the_model to which_Mr Medina_Ortega refers was_presented, emphasized that firstly, it would_go on working_together with the designers to improve_the_banknotes and, secondly,_that_the_European Central_Bank would decide_in_1998 on_the_final design and when manufacture of_the_notes should begin.
As for the Euro coins,_I think Mr Holm_asked_about these, I can_tell you that the directors_of the mints are currently studying_the technical_specifications for_the coins. The shape and materials to be used in the_Euro coin were discussed for the_first time by the_Council of_the_Union's finance ministers_on_27 January._And here, I should stress, the nickel_content of_the coins or whether their composition_should include nickel, was_discussed._The Council of finance ministers asked_the group of mint directors to_carry out a more detailed_study_and_suggest solutions.

Medina Ortega
Mr President-in-Office of_the Council, first I want to_say that I_am reassured by your remarks because we_still_have until 1998 for the final_design.
I_would just like the European Central_Bank_to_be informed, through the Presidency_of the Council, of the concern_of millions of European citizens who live in the_Canary Islands, the_Azores, Madeira, the Greek Islands,_Ceuta_and_Melilla, in other words a series of very important territories,_because this_map does not_show their territories, so it could be thought that the_currency is not valid in these regions_- given that there does seem to be an identification between_the map and validity of the currency.
The problem_may seem trivial to you, but it_is of fundamental concern_to_the inhabitants of