Free use of the ECU (European Currency Unit, forerunner of the €)
Improvement of economic convergence;
STAGE 2
Establishment of the European Monetary Institute (EMI
Ban on the granting of central bank credit
Increased co-ordination of monetary policies
Strengthening of economic convergence
Process leading to the independence of the national central banks, to be completed at
the latest by the date of establishment of the European System of Central Bank
Preparatory work for Stage Three
STAGE 3
Irrevocable fixing of conversion rates
Introduction of the euro
Conduct of the single monetary policy by the European System of Central BankS
Entry into effect of the intra-EU exchange rate mechanism (ERM II
Entry into force of the Stability and Growth PacT
PURPOSE
keep prices stable ,especially in countries that use the euro.
keep the financial system stable
keep inflation under control
TASKS
setting key interest rates for the eurozone and controlling the money supply
managing the eurozone's foreign-currency reserves
buying or selling currencies when necessary to keep exchange rates in balance
helping to ensure financial markets and institutions are adequately supervised by national
authorities,
that payment systems function smoothly
authorising central banks in eurozone countries to issue euro banknotes
monitoring price trends and assessing the risk they pose to price stability.
STRUCTURE
Executive Board
oversees day-to-day management.
It has 6 members (1 president
1 vice-president and 4 other members
appointed for 8 years by the leaders of the eurozone countries.
Governing Council
defines eurozone monetary policy
fixes the interest rates at which commercial banks can obtain money from the Ban
General Council
contributes to the ECB's advisory
coordination work and helps prepare for new countries joining the euro.
LOCATION
The bank is based in Frankfurt, the largest financial centre in the Eurozone. Its location in the city is
fixed by the Amsterdam Treaty.[90]
The bank moved to new purpose-built headquarters in 2014 which were designed a Vienna-based architectural office named
Coop Himmelbau