WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1218/98 by José GARCÍA-MARGALLO Y MARFIL to the Commission. European Central Bank
Date: 1998-04-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Economic and Monetary Union, European Central Bank, European System of Central Banks, decision-making body (EU), institutional structure, president of an institution, vice-president of an institution

C 386/96

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.98

It should be noted that the governing council of the ECB, which is the highest decision-making body, comprises
the governors of the national central banks of all participating Member States and the members of the executive
board of the ECB.

The ECB decision-making bodies also include the general council. Its competences are laid down in Article 47 of
the European system of central banks (ESCB) Statute and it comprises the governors of the national central banks
of all Member States.

(98/C 386/133)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1218/98

by JosØ Garc(cid:237)a-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission

(29 April 1998)

Subject: European Central Bank

Pursuant to Article 109a(2)(a) of the EU Treaty the Executive Board of the European Central Bank is to comprise
the President, the Vice-President and four other members. Paragraph 2(b) states that they are all to be appointed
by common accord of the governments of the Member States at the level of Heads of State or Government, on a
recommendation from the Council, after it has consulted the European Parliament and the bank(cid:146)s Governing
Council.

Would the Commission say whether or not it is envisaged that representatives of non-EMU countries will be
involved in the running of the ECB?

Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission

(11 June 1998)

The executive board of the European central bank (ECB) comprises the President and the Vice-President of the
ECB and four other members. Only nationals of participating Member States may be members of the executive
board.

The governing council of the ECB comprises the members of the executive board and the governors of the
national central banks of participating Member States. The governing council and the executive board are the
decision-making bodies of the ECB which govern the European system of central banks (ESCB).

The general council is the third decision-making body of the ECB. It consists of the President, the Vice-President
and the governors of the national central banks of all Member States. The responsibilities of the general council
mainly comprise advisory tasks. The general council provides for the link between central banks of participating
and non-participating Member States.

The EC Treaty and the ESCB Statute do not prevent the ECB from employing staff members from pre-in Member
States.

(98/C 386/134)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1219/98

by JosØ Garc(cid:237)a-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission

(29 April 1998)

Subject: European Central Bank

Pursuant to Article 109a(2)(a) of the EU Treaty the Executive Board of the European Central Bank is to comprise
the President, the Vice-President and four other members. Paragraph 2(b) states that they are all to be appointed
by common accord of the governments of the Member States at the level of Heads of State or Government, on a
recommendation from the Council, after it has consulted the European Parliament and the bank(cid:146)s Governing
Council.