IRELAND is likely to opt for the retention of the harp on the national side of the new coinage of Europe's single currency, the Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn, has said.
EU finance ministers decided that the coins - probably seven, based on multiples of hundredths of the euro - will be called eurocents. Although usable throughout the Union, and no effort will be made by governments to repatriate them, one side of the coin will be reserved for individual national symbols.
The ministers agreed to launch an international competition for the design of the common European sides of the coins. They will invite designs based on artistic or decorative motifs or themes conjuring up the ideals of the European Union.
While not ruling out the possibility of using the heads of famous Europeans, several ministers expressed doubts whether they could come up with a commonly acceptable list (however names from Charlemagne to Jean Monnet and even Plato and Leonardo da Vinci were being mentioned.
Greek attempts to insist on at least some cyrillic symbols on the common face were unsuccessful.
Member states with monarchies are expected to use their monarchs' heads on the national side, while the others will almost certainly opt for symbols already in use on the coins today in order to provide continuity and reassurance to the public.
