2006/212/EC: Council Decision of  14 March 2006  amending Decision 1999/70/EC concerning the external auditors of the national central banks, as regards the external auditors of the Österreichische Nationalbank
Date: 2006-03-14
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Austria, accountant, central bank

16.3.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 79/25

II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COUNCIL

COUNCIL DECISION

of 14 March 2006

amending Decision 1999/70/EC concerning the external auditors of the national central banks, as
regards the external auditors of the Österreichische Nationalbank

(2006/212/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

(4)

Having regard to the Protocol on the Statute of the European
System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank,
annexed to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
and in particular to Article 27(1) thereof,

regard to Recommendation ECB/2006/1 of

Having
the
European Central Bank of 1 February 2006 to the Council of
the European Union on the external auditors of the Österrei-
chische Nationalbank (1),

Whereas:

(5)

(6)

(1)

(2)

(3)

The accounts of the European Central Bank (ECB) and of
the national central banks of the Eurosystem 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.

Pursuant to Article 37(1) of the Federal Act on the Öster-
the
reichische Nationalbank,
Österreichische Nationalbank (ÖNB)
two
auditors and two alternate auditors each year. The
alternate auditors will be mandated only in the event
that the auditors are not able to perform the audit.

the General Meeting of
elect

shall

The mandate of the current external auditors of the ÖNB
cannot be renewed for a further term of office after the
audit for the financial year 2005. It is therefore necessary
to appoint external auditors from the financial year
2006.

(1) OJ C 34, 10.2.2006, p. 30.

The ÖNB has selected KPMG Alpen-Treuhand GmbH,
TPA Horwath Wirtschaftsprüfung GmbH, Moore
Stephens Austria Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft mbH
and BDO Auxilia Treuhand GmbH as its new external
in accordance with Community as well as
auditors
Austrian public procurement
legislation, and the ECB
considers that they fulfil the necessary requirements for
appointment.

The Governing Council of the ECB recommended that
the mandate of the external auditors should be renewed
on a yearly basis, not exceeding a total term of five years.

It is appropriate to follow the recommendation of the
Governing Council of the ECB and to amend Council
Decision 1999/70/EC (2) accordingly,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Article 1(9) of Decision 1999/70/EC shall be replaced by the
following:

‘9.
KPMG Alpen-Treuhand GmbH and TPA Horwath
Wirtschaftsprüfung GmbH are hereby approved jointly as
the external auditors of
the Österreichische Nationalbank
(ÖNB) for the financial year 2006.

(2) OJ L 22, 29.1.1999, p. 69. Decision as last amended by Decision

2005/866/EC (OJ L 318, 6.12.2005, p. 25).

L 79/26

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

16.3.2006

Moore Stephens Austria Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft mbH
and BDO Auxilia Treuhand GmbH are hereby approved
jointly as
the
financial year 2006.

the alternate auditors of

the ÖNB for

Article 3

This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the
European Union.

This mandate may be renewed on a yearly basis, not
exceeding a total
five years, ending with the
financial year 2010 at the latest.’

term of

Done at Brussels, 14 March 2006.

Article 2

This Decision shall be notified to the European Central Bank.

For the Council
The President

K.-H. GRASSER