During the last 16 months, counterfeit 2 euro coins have been circulating in Kosovo. During the last months of last year and the first 4 months of 2024, about 2.5 million 2 euro coins were withdrawn from circulation.

Recently, the Central Bank of Kosovo has announced the measures taken to combat this phenomenon. About 54,000 pieces of coins in the value of 2 euros have been discovered by the Kosovar police authorities, who have withdrawn them from circulation to prevent entry into the financial system.

At the same time, the economy has been supplied with 7.4 million units of new currency, as well as 5.82 million units in the form of completely new currency cards. The injected amount is 261.6 million euros.

Earlier in the year, CBK through a post on its official website announced the drafting of a manual on the technical features and security features of Euro banknotes and coins to prevent fraud.

Meanwhile, the phenomenon has caused many businesses and traders to refuse payments with the currency due to the mass spread of counterfeit currencies.

Along with the currency, the financial institution has withdrawn a significant amount of 500 euro banknotes, about 266 thousand pieces, or 133 million euros.

From 2019, the currency is no longer issued by the European Central Bank, to reduce its use in untraceable transfers of large sums which, according to investigations, were linked to criminal organizations and activities.