In the presence of 45 attendees from 6 different European countries, Banknote Watch International (BNWI) was launched at the Hotel Bristol Stephanie in Brussels on Tuesday 9 November 2004.

The three founding members - Banknote Watch Trust (BNWT) UK, Vigie Billet (VB) France and Occhio alla Banconota (OaB) Italy - were each represented by several members from each organisation including Raffaele Maddalone, OaB President, Paul Roquette, VB Chairman and Alan Townsend, BNWT Chairman. After the official formation and launch of BNWI, these three representatives exchanged a signed document containing the BNWI objectives and a certificate of founding membership to the acclamation of the attendees.

The members invited Alan Townsend to become BNWI’s chairman, which he graciously accepted, saying: “I wish to express my deep sense of pride in being elected Banknote Watch International’s first chairman and I offer my sincere thanks to the members for their support and confidence.” It was also agreed that the chairmanship of BNWI would be offered to each member organisation in rotation and that the annual general meeting would be held in the country where the chair is held.

BNWI was formed as an independent non-profit association to support, coordinate and monitor the Banknote Watch concept in the countries that adopt Banknote Watch’s crime prevention strategy proposals. The objectives of BNWI are:

. to assist organisations in host countries to introduce the Banknote Watch and to raise awareness among all parties concerned;

. to lend its support to the initial meetings and to assist with the implementation of an action plan;

. to present a strategic overview of planning, implementation and maintenance over time of the Banknote Watch concept, by supplying financial information in relation to the costs of launch and maintenance;

. to implement key performance indicators;

. to implement the public communication strategy;

. to advise on local pre- and post-launch issues;

. to have the aims and objectives of the Banknote Watch concept upheld;

. to provide regular international information;

. to coordinate “Banknote Watch” licensing arrangements and the minimum standards to be adhered to in host countries in order to maintain the consistency of the Banknote Watch concept;

. to monitor the affairs of Banknote Watch, or its equivalent, where adopted and, if appropriate, to act to maintain minimum standards.

BNWI will work with other European organisations to encourage the promotion of Banknote Watch and to develop its objectives in other countries.