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The European Central Bank (ECB, based in Frankfurt, Germany) manages the euro the EU's single currency and safeguards price stability in the EU.
The ECB is also responsible for framing and implementing the EUs economic and monetary policy.
Purpose
The European Central Bank (ECB) is one of the EU institutions. Its main purpose is to:
keep prices stable (keep inflation under control), especially in countries that use the euro.
keep the financial system stable by making sure financial markets and institutions are properly supervised.
The Bank works with the central banks in all 27 EU countries. Together they form the European System of Central Banks (ESCB).
It also leads the close cooperation between central banks in the euro area the 17 EU countries that have adopted the euro, also known as the eurozone. The cooperation
between this smaller, tighter group of banks is referred to as the Eurosystem.
Tasks
The ECB's role includes:
setting key interest rates for the eurozone and controlling the money supply
managing the eurozone's foreign-currency reserves and 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, and 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.
Full list of ECB tasks
Structure
See also
Money and the EU
The euro
The European Central Bank homepage
Full list of addresses
Downloads
ECB history, role and functions
CONTACT
General informat ion enquiries
Call 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11
E-mail y our questions
Download (flv)
Roles and tasks of the
European Central Bank
Popular links
Teaching materials from the European C entral Bank
Map of countries using the euro
Detailed information on the euro
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