Frankfurt (Germany) (EFE) European Central Bank (ECB).
The ECB reported on Monday that 2021 was a year in which the level of counterfeit banknotes was the lowest since the introduction of the euro.
Approximately two thirds of the banknotes withdrawn in 2022 were 20 and 50 euros.
“In 2022, thirteen counterfeit banknotes were detected for every million genuine banknotes in circulation, the second lowest historical level since the introduction of euro banknotes,” the ECB said in a statement.
The increase in 2022 is also a reflection of the recovery in economic activity after the removal of most restrictions related to the coronavirus (COVID-19).
96.6% of counterfeit banknotes were detected in euro area countries, while 2.7% were found in non-euro area Member States of the European Union (EU) and 0.7 %, in other parts of the world.
The ECB considers that “most counterfeit banknotes are easy to detect due to poor imitations of security features or lack of them” and urges citizens to remain vigilant.