the euro and the blind - European Parliament

DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR RESEARCH Directorate A: Medium and Long Term Research Division for Economic, Monetary and Budgetary Affairs

BRIEFING ECON 514 EN

THE EURO AND THE BLIND

The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the European Parliament's position

Luxembourg 21 May 2001

PE 304.746


This document is published in English (original) and French.

Summary There are about 1 million blind people within the euro area, and another 7 million who are partially sighted. The introduction of €-denominated notes and coins at the beginning of 2002 poses special problems for these people; but the European Blind Union has from the start been closely involved in defining the technical specifications of the € notes and coins. A number of special features should make identification easier: for example, the large numerals showing the values of the banknotes are printed in relief and can be perceived by touch; and the edges of the coins vary. Financial support from the EU has also made it possible for the EBU and other bodies to make special preparations for the € changeover.

Publisher:

European Parliament L-2929 Luxembourg

Editor:

Ben Patterson Economic, Monetary and Budgetary Affairs Division Tel. : (00-352) 4300 24114 Fax : (00-352) 4300 27721 E-Mail : [email protected]

Reproduction and translation of this publication are authorised, except for commercial purposes, provided that the source is acknowledged and that the publisher is informed in advance and supplied with a copy.

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CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................................... 5 ACTION TAKEN..................................................................................................................................................... 5 TECHNICAL ASPECTS ........................................................................................................................................ 6 NOTES .................................................................................................................................................................... 6 COINS ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7 THE CHANGEOVER ............................................................................................................................................. 8 POSITION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ........................................................................................... 9 ECONOMIC AFFAIRS SERIES BRIEFINGS ..............................................................................................................10 RECENT ECONOMIC AFFAIRS SERIES WORKING PAPERS ....................................................................................10

Graphics GRAPHIC 1: THE EURO BANKNOTES................................................................................................................ 6 GRAPHIC 2: THE EURO COINS (COMMON SIDE) ........................................................................................... 7 TABLE: DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COINS.................................................................. 8

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Introduction There are about 1 million blind people within the euro area, and around another 7 million who are partially sighted. The special problems posed for these people by the introduction of €-denominated notes and coins have been recognised from the start of monetary union. The European Blind Union has, in particular, been closely involved in the work of the Commission, the European Monetary Institute and the ECB in defining the technical specifications of the notes and coins. In 1995, following consultations with members, a study – Currency Design for Visually Impaired People – set out recommendation for note and coin design. In the case of notes, these findings were taken into account from the start by the EMI. In the case of coins, seven out of the eight € coin designs initially produced by the national Mint Directors Working Group were subsequently modified so as to meet the requirements of the blind more effectively. The EBU also interviewed some 300 visually impaired people in Belgium, Germany and Spain during early 1999. Starting in May 1998, the Commission also organised “easy Euro” pilot projects, aimed at evaluating the specific problems which certain target groups, including the blind, were likely to face. Twenty Working Parties were set up in France, Belgium and Italy with the aim of developing experience in training and the provision of information. This research formed part of the input to the “Euro Made Easy” programme.

Action taken Financial support from the EU has made it possible for the EBU and other bodies to make special preparations for the € changeover. These include: Braille and large-type information brochures. Audio and computer information resources. Training for a network of instructors, as a preliminary to a specialised programme of help for the blind and other target groups from April 2001 onwards. Game packs for both children and adults. These are adapted for visual impairment, in particular through the use of magnetic boards and pieces, squares with different reliefs and textures, the use of large print and braille, etc. The provision by the ECB of 28 000 training kits containing dummies of the euro notes, having the exact feel of the real notes (but printed on one side with the words “NO VALUE” and without certain confidential security features). Special simulated versions of € notes printed on “tactile” paper. On 8 May 2001 the Commission announced the distribution of 37 000 sets of the eight dummy euro coins (marked “training tokens”), provided by the national mints. In the near future, training activities using real coins on secure premises. A detailed brochure – Euro Vision: the Euro Made Easy1 – has been published by the EBU as a guide for people with poor vision. It is available not only in normal format but also in braille, as an audio cassette and on the Internet. 1

Euro Vision: the Euro made easy. Understanding notes and coins – a guide for people with poor vision, European Blind Union and the European Communities, 36pp.

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Technical aspects Notes A number of features of € notes should make identification easier for the blind. Graphic 1: The euro banknotes

Some elements of the banknote design are printed in relief, through the use of a special printing technique (intaglio). The large (over 2cm. high) numerals showing the values of the banknotes are printed in relief and can be perceived by touch. Each note is of a different length: €5 (120mm), €10 (127mm), €20 (133mm), €50 (140mm), €100 (147mm), €200 (153mm), €500 (160mm). The €5 (62mm), €10 (67mm), €20 (72mm) and €50 (77mm) also vary in width. The €100, €200 and €500 notes are all 82 mm. wide. However, each has distinguishing tactile features in the form of lines or bands. All notes have foil features perceptible by touch. Those on the €5, €10 and €20 notes differ in shape and position from those on the €50, €100, €200 and €500 notes. The partially sighted can easily recognise the different notes through the following features: Each note has a dominant colour: €5 grey; €10 red; €20 blue; €50 orange; €100 green; €200 yellow-brown; and €500 purple. Sharply contrasting colours have been chosen to distinguish between each pair of notes in the sequence. The value of each note is printed in large, bold figures.

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Coins For the blind, the optimum design for the eight € coins would have been for each to differ in shape. Though this was not possible, certain features will assist recognition. Graphic 2: The Euro coins (common side)

Each value coin has a unique size and weight (see Table). The coins do not consistently increase in size according to value; but they do in terms of weight, with one exception: the 50 cent coin is slightly heavier than the €1 coin. The edges of the coins vary: • • • • • • • •

1 cent: smooth. 2 cents: shallow groove scores around otherwise smooth circumference. 5 cents: smooth. 10 cents: scalloped edge. 20 cents: (the “Spanish Flower” design) 7 notches on the edge divide the petals. 50 cents: scalloped edge. €1: edge divided into 6 alternating smooth and serrated sections. €2: edge entirely serrated or milled, with lettering or stars.

The position of the number indicating value varies: • • •

On the 1, 2 and 5 cent coins, in the top left quarter. On the 10, 20 and 50 cent coins, filling the right half of the coin. On the €1 and €2 coins, filling the left half of the coin.

The differing national faces of each coin also have distinguishing features.

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Table: Distinguishing Characteristics of the coins Value

Edge

Diameter

Average Thickness

Weight

1 cent

smooth

16.25mm

1.36mm

2.3 grams

2 cent

groove

18.75mm

1.36mm

3 grams

5 cents

smooth

21.25mm

1.36mm

3.9 grams

10 cents

scalloped

19.75mm

1.51mm

5.7 grams

20 cents

“Spanish flower”

22.25mm

1.63mm

5.7 grams

50 cents

scalloped

24.25mm

1.88mm

7.8 grams

€1

smooth/serrated

23.25mm

2.125mm

7.5 grams

€2

milled with lettering or stars

25.75mm

1.95mm

8.5 grams

The changeover The ECB has already launched an information campaign designed to inform banks, businesses, traders, etc. of the characteristics of euro banknotes and coins In the second phase, which is scheduled for the second half of 2001, the general public will be provided with information by means of a mass media campaign. The main communication tools will be television broadcasts and mass-distributed printed matter, supported by radio broadcasts and both billboard and press advertisements. Special measures will be taken to ensure that the campaign meets the specific needs of various groups of more vulnerable citizens, in particular the blind and partially sighted. €-denominated coins – but not notes – will be “front-loaded” to the general public from midDecember in a number of countries (those already announced: Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland). Both notes and coins will be available throughout the euro area as legal tender from 1 January 2002. Notes can be obtained from 1 January 2002 from bank cash machines and at the banking counter. Except in Germany, there will then be a period of dual legal tender – both national and €denominated notes and coins – for a period of up to two months. A number of suggestions have been made to help, in particular, the blind during this transitional period. The availability of vocal converters and calculators. Audio tills in shops. Special holders to separate and distinguish the various national and € coins. Similar wallets for notes. A greater use of credit and cash cards in the first few days of January 2002.

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Position of the European Parliament The Report prepared for the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs on the transitional period for the introduction of the euro (rapporteur Helena TORRES MARQUES, A5-0076/1999 of 25 November 1999) specifically encouraged the ECB and Member States “to make every possible effort to support the more vulnerable groups in society (the…visually and aurally impaired…) with training possibilities, information about the time-table, samples and training kits with euro notes and coins, etc.;” The rapporteur also took the position that the period of dual circulation should be no more than two months, which would provide “a good balance between the need to give citizens (especially those more vulnerable groups in society) enough time to get familiarised with the euro notes and coins, while at the same time not putting too heavy a burden on commercial sectors and public administrations….” A further report prepared for the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs on the communications strategy in the last phases of the completion of EMU (rapporteur Othmar KARAS, A5-0170/2000 of 21 June 2000) called for “special attention to continue to be devoted to preparing certain categories of the population with particular difficulties of access to information such as elderly, blind people or people with impaired sight or hearing….since these categories require a form of education rather than mere information; [the] stepping up of ..the training of trainers; and providing them….from the last three months of 2001 with the appropriate sample sets of euro notes and coins, in accordance with the relevant security measures.”

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Economic Affairs Series Briefings To obtain paper copies of the following publications, please contact: G.B. Patterson, Economic, Monetary and Budgetary Affairs Division, European Parliament, L-2929 Luxembourg. Tél.: (00352) 4300 24114 Number ECON 515 ECON 514 ECON 513 ECON 512 ECON 511 ECON 510 ECON 509

Date April 2001 April 2001 May 2001 May 2001 May 2001 April 2001 March 2001

ECON 508 ECON 507 ECON 505 ECON 504 ECON 503 ECON 502 ECON 501 Econ 30 Econ 27

November 2000 July 2000 May 2000 July 2000 May 2000 June 2000 April 2000 March 2000 February 2000

Title Die deutsche Wirtschaft The Euro and the Blind Tobacco Tax The Euro: Counterfeiting and Fraud Margine di Solvibilitá The Consequences of EMU for the EEA/EFTA countries Stability and Convergence Programmes: the 2000/2001 Updates The Swedish Economy The Economy of the Netherlands The Portuguese Economy The French Economy The Spanish Economy The “Third Way” The Danish Economy The Italian Economy The Greek Economy

Languages DE, EN, FR EN, FR EN, FR EN, FR IT, EN EN, FR EN, FR EN EN EN EN, FR EN, ES EN, FR EN EN, FR, IT EN, FR, GR

Recent Economic Affairs Series Working Papers The following publications are available on line on the Intranet at: http://www.dg4.ep.ec. They are also available on the Internet at the following address: http://www.europarl.ep.ec. To obtain paper copies of the following publications, please contact:http://[email protected] or Fax (352) 4300-27722. Number

Date

Title

Languages EN

EN,FR,DE EN,FR,DE EN,FR,DE EN,FR EN,FR,DE EN,FR,DE EN,FR,DE EN,FR,DE EN,FR,DE EN,FR,DE

ECON 126

Jan. 2001

ECON 125 ECON 123 ECON 122 ECON 121

Jan. 2001 Aug.2000 April 2000 Nov. 1999

ECON 120 ECON 118

Aug. 2000 Mar. 2000

ECON 117 ECON 116 ECON 115 ECON 114 ECON 113 ECON 112 ECON 111 ECON 110 rev. 1 ECON 109 ECON 107

Jan. 2000 Dec.1999 Oct. 1999 Sept. 1999 May 1999 May 1999 April 1999 April 1999

The Economic Situation of the European Union and the Outlook for 2001/2 Tax Co-ordination in the European Union Improving cross-border payments in the euro area Strategies for the EU Economy Consumer protection aspects of the UCITS amending directives of 17.7.1998 Exchange Rates and Monetary Policy The Functioning and Supervision of International Financial Institutions EMU and Enlargement: a review of policy issues The Determination of Interest Rates Options for the Exchange Rate Management of the ECB The Euro as 'Parallel Currency', 1999-2002 Public and Private Investment in the European Union The Monetary Policy of the ECB under Treaty Article 105 Labour Costs and Wage Policy within EMU Monetary Policy Transmission in the Euro Area

April 1999 Mar. 2000

Forecasting budgetary deficits The Feasibility of an International ‘Tobin Tax’

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EN EN,FR,DE EN,DE EN,DE EN,FR,DE EN

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