Decisions adopted by the Governing Board on 17 July 2007

At today's meeting, the Governing Board of the Republic of Slovenia discussed information on cash counterfeiting for the first half of 2007. According to data from the National Analysis Centres for euro coins and euro banknotes, 1091 counterfeited euro banknotes and 649 euro coins were detected in the first half of the year with a total value of 206,743.50 euros. The four largest denomination banknotes (50, 100, 200 and 500 euros) represented most of the counterfeited euro banknotes, in terms of quantity and value, while the 2 euro coin was the most commonly counterfeited euro coin. The number of counterfeited euro banknotes detected in Slovenia is relatively small. Slovenia is tenth of the 13 eurozone members by number of forgeries detected per 1000 inhabitants. Despite the high level of protective features for euro banknotes, it is important that people play close attention to whether euro banknotes are authentic by checking their protective elements. The authenticity of euro banknotes can be checked very quickly using the simple FEEL-LOOK-TILT test, which is described in ECB and Bank of Slovenia publications, and on the websites of both institutions.