The European Central Bank outlines its Euro 2002 Information Campaign on the euro banknotes and coins

Frankfurt , 1 March 2001 — The European Central Bank today outlined the main elements of the Euro 2002 Information Campaign that it has launched together with the 12 national central banks of the euro area to help the public prepare for the introduction of euro banknotes and coins on 1 January 2002 .

The Euro 2002 Information Campaign includes:

"the EURO. OUR money"

Before the Euro 2002 Information Campaign was launched, research commissioned by the European Central Bank revealed that euro area citizens are starting to identify with the currency. The resulting slogan chosen for the advertising campaign is "the EURO. OUR money". The goals of the advertising campaign, which will start in the autumn, are:

The campaign, which will cover the euro area, will include TV commercials, print adverts as well as specific campaign information material. The key objective is to inform some 300 million people in Europe, and many more beyond its borders, about the new money.

The advertisements are part of an integrated campaign launched by the European Central Bank and the 12 national central banks of the euro area to help ensure that the new banknotes and coins are widely recognised and accepted in all 12 countries as from 1 January 2002 .

In addition to providing information to the public directly, the Euro 2002 Information Campaign will be informing the public via public- and private-sector organisations under its Partnership Programme.

The programme includes a series of one-day conferences which are being held in different countries by the respective national central banks to raise awareness and provide information on the changeover. The first of these conferences will be organised by the National Bank of Belgium in Brussels on 6 March 2001 .

Announcing the campaign at a press conference in Frankfurt , the European Central Bank's President, Mr. Willem F. Duisenberg, said: "Like any other initiative, the Euro 2002 Information Campaign needs a catchy phrase or theme — one which will have a lasting impact across Europe and capture the imagination of those living in the euro area. Market research has shown that

"the EURO. OUR money"

is the most appropriate. It holds out a promise which will appeal both to Europeans and to visitors who arrive from around the world. An essential part of our Euro 2002 Information Campaign is the Partnership Programme with national and international businesses. This link-up between commercial and other organisations on the one hand, and the European Central Bank and the national central banks on the other, means we can reach many more people both in Europe and worldwide, and inform them about the euro banknotes and coins, as well as the changeover plans.

The European Central Bank has already launched its own euro website - www.euro.ecb.int. This site contains a wealth of information for the general public, as well as a national and international "Partners' area" where official Europartners can download campaign information after registering with the European Central Bank or with the national central banks.

In a special area for the media, "News and events", journalists can apply to receive press releases and to download the artwork featuring "the EURO. OUR money" slogan. The website has 200 pages of information on the new currency and the changeover scenario, and even includes a "Children's zone" with games, in the 11 official Community languages.

The main elements of the Euro 2002 Information Campaign are described in the attachment.

Frankfurt , 1 March 2001

The Euro 2002 Information Campaign will ensure that the general public is familiar with the new euro banknotes and coins. It is designed to complement other information campaigns on the introduction of the euro banknotes and coins, particularly those run by the governmental authorities in each euro area country. The campaign will focus on four main messages:

Specific measures have been taken to ensure that blind and partially sighted citizens as well as deaf and elderly people will receive tailor-made information.

The campaign will be delivered via four principal channels.

1. The advertising (mass media) campaign

To reduce the risk of counterfeiting, the euro banknotes in their final designs, plus their security features, will not be revealed until September 2001. An advertising campaign will then be launched to familiarise the general public with the appearance and authentication features of the euro banknotes. Advertisements centred on the slogan

"the EURO. OUR money"

will appear on TV and in print in all the euro area countries. The adverts will be complemented by mass-produced information material (leaflets, posters, etc.) distributed in co-operation with other organisations through the Partnership Programme.

2. Public relations and press activities

The campaign will help to maximise the public's interest in the euro banknotes and coins and will ensure that the media is provided with accurate information via public relations and press activities. These activities also raise awareness about the changeover modalities and contribute towards making the public more receptive to the new euro banknotes and coins.

Conferences on the new euro banknotes and coins, the logistics and the changeover modalities, hosted by the national central banks of the euro area, will be held to push preparations forward. Such events will also offer a forum for providing regular updates on various changeover aspects and for sharing best practices in the euro area.

The first conference will be organised by the National Bank of Belgium in

Brussels on 6 March 2001 . For further information on this conference, please contact: Mr. Nabiljijakli Nationale Bank van Belgie / Banque Nationale de Belgique boulevard de Berlaimont 14 / de Berlaimontlaan 14 1000 BRUXELLES / 1000 BRUSSEL Tel: + 32 2 221 2546 Fax: + 32 2 221 3153

3. Website

A dedicated website — www.euro.ecb.int — was launched by the European Central Bank in late January 2001. It plays a central role in making comprehensive information on the euro banknotes and coins available to all, whether inside or outside the euro area, in the 11 official Community languages (Danish, German, Greek, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, Finnish and Swedish). Journalists can register on-line to receive the latest press releases.

4. The Partnership Programme

Many bodies in various sectors (public, banking, retail, travel and tourist organisations) will also be informing their staff, customers and other target groups about the changeover to the euro banknotes and coins. The European Central Bank and the 12 national central banks share a common interest with these bodies in ensuring that accurate information is as widely available as possible. The Partnership Programme provides a framework within which the European Central Bank, the national central banks and the various bodies can co-operate to ensure that the right information is available in the right place at the right time. A separate information folder (media kit) on the Partnership Programme will be made available to journalists next week, 300 days before €-day on 1 January 2002 .

CONTACT LIST

For the national central banks and the European Central Bank

Belgium Nationale Bank van Belgie/ Banque Nationale de Belgique: Nabiljijakli Tel: + 32 2 221 2546 Fax: + 32 2 221 3153 boulevard de Berlaimont 14 de Berlaimontlaan 14 1000 BRUXELLES 1000 BRUSSEL

Germany Deutsche Bundesbank: Johannes-Rudi Korz >Tel: + 49 69 9566 3512 or 3515 Fax: + 49 69 9566 3077 Abteilung Presse und Information Postfach 10 06 02 60006 Frankfurt am Main

Greece Bank of Greece : Angeliki Boulala Tel:+ 301 324 7921 Fax: + 30 1 322 6371 Secretariat and Public Relations 21 E. Venizelos Avenue 102 50 ATHENS

Spain Banco de Espana: Ricardo Fernandez and Nuria Horcajada Tel:+ 34 91 338 53 18 Fax: + 34 91 338 52 03 Gabinete de Prensa c/Alcala 50 28014 MADRID

France Banque de France: Isabelle Rehbach Tel: + 33 1 42 92 39 00 Fax: + 33 1 42 92 39 81 Boite Postale 140-0175049 PARIS CEDEX 01

Ireland Central Bank of Ireland : Neil Whoriskey Tel: + 353 1 6716 666 Fax: + 353 1 6703 776 Corporate Services Department Dame Street DUBLIN 2

Italy Banca d'ltalia: Maria Luisa Mattiuzzi Tel: + 39 06 4792 3255 Fax: + 39 06 4792 2253 Servizio Segreteria Particolare Via Nazionale 91 00184 ROMA

Luxembourg Banque centrale du Luxembourg Marc Konsbruck Tel:+ 352 4774 4265 Fax: + 352 4774 4910 Departement Secretariat general Section Communication 2, boulevard Royal 2983 LUXEMBOURG

The Netherlands De Nederlandsche Bank: Bert Groothoff Tel:+ 31 20 524 3411 Fax: + 31 20 524 2228 Afdeling Externe Betrekkingen en Voorlichting Postbus 98 1000 AB AMSTERDAM

Austria Oesterreichische Nationalbank: Giinther Thonabauer Tel:+ 43 1404 20 6601 Fax: + 43 1 404 20 6697 Sekretariat des Direktoriums Otto-Wagner-Platz 3 090 WIEN

Portugal Banco de Portugal: Nuno Jonet Tel: + 351 21 321 5374 Fax : + 351 21 321 5405 148 Rua do Comercio 1101 LISBOA Codex

Finland Suomen Pankki: Heli-Kirsti Airisniemi Tel: + 358 9 183 2680 Fax: + 358 9 658 424 Tiedotusyksikko PL 160 00101 HELSINKI

European Central Bank Kaiserstrasse 29 60311 Frankfurt am Main GERMANY Tel: + 49 69 1344 0 (switchboard) Fax: + 49 69 1344 7404

Please also see below for direct extensions.

Manfred J. Korber Director External Relations Extension: 7312

Joao de Almeida

Project Manager

Euro 2002 Information Campaign

Extension: 6397

Regina K. Schiiller

Head of the Press Division

Extension: 7457

Olivier Radelet Press Officer Extension: 6532

Jean Rodriguez Press Officer Extension: 6826