Decision (EU) 2026/1190 of the European Central Bank of 19 May 2026 amending Decision (EU) 2025/2419 on the approval of the volume of coin issuance in 2026 (ECB/2025/37) (ECB/2026/12)

Official Journal EN of the European Union L series 2026/1190 2.6.2026 DECISION(EU) 2026/1190 OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK of 19 May 2026 amending Decision (EU) 2025/2419 on the approval of the volume of coin issuance in 2026 (ECB/2025/37) (ECB/2026/12) THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 128(2) thereof, Having regard to Decision (EU) 2015/2332 of the European Central Bank of 4 December 2015 on the procedural framework for the approval of the volume of euro coin issuance (ECB/2015/43)(1)and in particular Article 3(7) thereof, Whereas: (1) The European Central Bank (ECB) has the exclusive right since 1 January 1999 to approve the volume of coins issued by the Member States whose currency is the euro. (2) Based on the estimates of demand for euro coins in 2026 that the Member States whose currency is the euro submitted to the ECB, the ECB approved the total volume of euro coins intended for circulation and euro collector coins not intended for circulation in 2026 in Decision (EU) 2025/2419 of the European Central Bank (ECB/2025/37)(2). (3) Pursuant to Article 3 of Decision (EU) 2015/2332 (ECB/2015/43), Member States whose currency is the euro must notify the ECB if the actual demand for euro coins is likely to exceed the approved volume of coin issuance in a calendar year and, where the increased coin demand continues, must request ad hoc approval for an additional volume of coin issuance in that calendar year. (4) On 26 March 2026, the ECB received a request from Българска народна банка (Bulgarian National Bank) on behalf of Bulgaria to increase the volume of circulation coins that Bulgaria may issue in 2026 by an additional volume of EUR 174,66 million, from EUR 163,64 million to EUR 338,30 million. There are several reasons for this request. First, 2026 is the first year after the changeover to the euro in Bulgaria, and the process of exchanging lev banknotes and coins for euro is still ongoing, resulting in a high demand for euro coins. Second, according to the historical data on the circulation of lev coins, the highest net issuance occurs in the third quarter (summer holidays) and in December (Christmas holidays). Third, considering the lack of statistical data on euro cash circulation in Bulgaria, there is a high level of uncertainty regarding how coin demand will develop in the months ahead. (5) On 10 April 2026, the ECB received a request from the Royal Mint of Belgium on behalf of Belgium to increase the volume of collector coins that Belgium may issue in 2026 by an additional volume of EUR 10 million, from EUR 0,3 million to EUR 10,3 million. The reason for this request is the issuance of two bullion coins, with nominal values of EUR 75 and EUR 300, which was not previously foreseen. (6) Pursuant to Article 3(7) of Decision (EU) 2015/2332 (ECB/2015/43), the Executive Board must adopt an individual decision on the ad hoc approval request, when no modification to the ad hoc request is required. (7) Therefore, Decision (EU) 2025/2419 (ECB/2025/37) should be amended accordingly, (1) OJ L 328,12.12.2015, p. 123, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2015/2332/oj. (2) Decision (EU) 2025/2419 of the European Central Bank of 18 November 2025 on the approval of the volume of coin issuance in 2026 (ECB/2025/37) (OJ L, 2025/2419, 28.11.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/2419/oj). ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/1190/oj 1/2EN OJ L, 2.6.2026 HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 Amendment The table in Article 2 of Decision (EU) 2025/2419 (ECB/2025/37) is amended as follows: (1) the row regarding Belgium is replaced by the following: ‘Belgium 56,00 10,30 66,30’ (2) the row regarding Bulgaria is replaced by the following: ‘Bulgaria 338,30 0,63 338,93’ (3) the row entitled ‘Total’ is replaced by the following: ‘Total 2 064,41 521,49 2 585,90’ Article 2 Taking effect This Decision shall take effect on the day of its notification to the addressees. Article 3 Addressees This Decision is addressed to the Member States whose currency is the euro. Done at Frankfurt am Main, 19 May 2026. The President of the ECB Christine LAGARDE 2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/1190/oj