Tasks

The tasks of the ESCB and of the Eurosystem are laid down in the Treaty establishing the European Community. They are specified in the Statute of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) and of the European Central Bank (ECB). The Statute is a protocol attached to the Treaty.

The Treaty text refers to the ‘ESCB' rather than to the 'Eurosystem'. It was drawn up on the premise that eventually all EU Member States will adopt the euro. Until then, the Eurosystem will carry out the tasks.

Objectives

"The primary objective of the ESCB shall be to maintain price stability".

And: "without prejudice to the objective of price stability, the ESCB shall support the general economic policies in the Community with a view to contributing to the achievement of the objectives of the Community as laid down in Article 2." (Treaty article 105.1)

The objectives of the Union (Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union) are a high level of employment and sustainable and non-inflationary growth.

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Basic tasks

According to the Treaty establishing the European Community (Article 105.2), the basic tasks are

• the definition and implementation of monetary policy for the euro area;
• the conduct of foreign exchange operations;
• the holding and management of the official foreign reserves of the euro area countries (portfolio management).
• the promotion of the smooth operation of payment systems.

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Further tasks

• Banknotes: the ECB has the exclusive right to authorise the issuance of banknotes within the euro area.
• Statistics: in cooperation with the NCBs, the ECB collects statistical information necessary for fulfilling the tasks, either from national authorities or directly from economic agents.
• Financial stability & supervision: the Eurosystem contributes to the smooth conduct of policies pursued by the authorities in charge related to the prudential supervision of credit institutions and the stability of the financial system.
• International and European cooperation: the ECB maintains working relations with relevant institutions, bodies and fora both within the EU and internationally in respect of tasks entrusted to the Eurosystem.

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