ECB Press Release

Today the European Central Bank released its 2001 Annual Report. This Report has been prepared in accordance with Article 113 (3) of the Treaty and is being submitted to the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, the European Commission and the European Council.

Following a foreword by Dr. Willem F. Duisenberg, President of the European Central Bank, and beside other tasks and activities it covers the following main subjects:

Economic developments and monetary policy

Central bank operations

Risk management

Economic developments in the other countries of the European Union

European, multilateral and bilateral issues

The cash changeover and the production and issue of euro banknotes

Payment and securities settlement systems

Financial stability and prudential supervision

The statistical framework

External communication and accountability

The institutional framework of the Eurosystem and the European System of Central Banks

Annual Accounts of the ECB and Consolidated Balance Sheet of the Eurosystem 2001

The Annual Report, produced in all 11 official Community languages, will be distributed by each of the EU national central banks to interested parties in their respective countries.