COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2022/833

of 24 May 2022

amending Decision 1999/70/EC concerning the external auditors of the national central banks, as regards the external auditors of Národná banka Slovenska

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to Protocol No 4 on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 27.1 thereof,

Having regard to the Recommendation of the European Central Bank of 5 April 2022 to the Council of the European Union on the external auditors of Národná banka Slovenska (ECB/2022/16) (1),

Whereas:

(1) The accounts of the European Central Bank (ECB) and of the national central banks of the Member States whose currency is the euro are to be audited by independent external auditors recommended by the Governing Council of the ECB and approved by the Council of the European Union.

(2) In 2017, Národná banka Slovenska selected Deloitte Audit s.r.o. as its external auditors for the financial years 2017 to 2020, with an option to extend the mandate to the financial years 2021 to 2023.

(3) The mandate of Deloitte Audit s.r.o. ended after the audit for the financial year 2020 in accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2017/1849 (2), and Národná banka Slovenska extended the mandate of Deloitte Audit s.r.o. to the financial year 2021.

(4) The mandate of the current external auditors of Národná banka Slovenska, Deloitte Audit s.r.o., ended after the audit for the financial year 2021 in accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2021/1169 (3). It is therefore necessary to appoint external auditors from the financial year 2022.

(5) Národná banka Slovenska intends to extend the mandate of Deloitte Audit s.r.o. to the financial years 2022 and 2023. This extension is possible in accordance with the contractual arrangements between Národná banka Slovenska and Deloitte Audit s.r.o.

(6) The Governing Council of the ECB recommended that Deloitte Audit s.r.o. be appointed as the external auditors of Národná banka Slovenska for the financial years 2022 and 2023.

(7) Following the recommendation of the Governing Council of the ECB, Council Decision 1999/70/EC (4) should be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 In Article 1 of Decision 1999/70/EC, paragraph 16 is replaced by the following: ‘16. Deloitte Audit s.r.o. are hereby approved as the external auditors of Národná banka Slovenska for the financial years 2022 and 2023.’.

Article 2 This Decision shall take effect on the date of its notification.

Article 3 This Decision is addressed to the European Central Bank.

Done at Brussels, 24 May 2022. For the Council The President B. LE MAIRE

(1) OJ C 160, 13.4.2022, p. 9.

(2) Council Decision (EU) 2017/1849 of 10 October 2017 amending Decision 1999/70/EC concerning the external auditors of the national central banks, as regards the external auditors of Národná banka Slovenska (OJ L 264, 13.10.2017, p. 5).

(3) Council Decision (EU) 2021/1169 of 13 July 2021 amending Decision 1999/70/EC concerning the external auditors of the national central banks, as regards the external auditors of Národná banka Slovenska (OJ L 255, 16.7.2021, p. 1).

(4) Council Decision 1999/70/EC of 25 January 1999 concerning the external auditors of the national central banks (OJ L 22, 29.1.1999, p. 69).