The purpose of the Bill is to complete the transposition of Directive 2014/62/EU, and to make provision for three EU instruments dealing with authenticity and fitness checking of euro banknotes and euro coins and measures for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting.
Part 2 of the Bill will give effect to Directive 2014/62/EU on the protection of the euro and other currencies against counterfeiting by criminal law which updates and replaces Council Framework Decision 2000/383/JHA and which was given effect to in Part 5 of the Act of 2001. The Directive updates the offences of making, uttering and importing counterfeit currency and possessing instruments and security features for making counterfeits.
Part 3 of the Bill deals with implementation issues relating to three EU instruments dealing with authenticity, fitness checking and measures to prevent counterfeiting in relation to euro notes and coins.