RECOMMENDATION OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK

of 10 February 2000

on the external auditors of the national central banks

(ECB/2000/2)

(2000/C 62/07)

THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK,

Having regard to the Statute of the European system of central banks and of the European Central Bank and in particular to Article 27.1 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) The accounts of the European Central Bank (ECB) and of the national central banks (NCBs) shall be audited by independent external auditors recommended by the Governing Council of the ECB and approved by the Council of the European Union.

(2) The external auditors recommended in ECB Recommendation ECB/1998/5(1) reflect the current appointments made by each participating NCB and do not pre-empt the right of the ECB to recommend other external auditors of the NCBs whenever this is required by a change of circumstances,

RECOMMENDS:

- KPMG Deutsche Treuhand-Gesellschaft AG and Ernst & Young Deutsche Allgemeine Treuhand AG as the external auditors of the Deutsche Bundesbank for the annual accounts starting from the financial year 2000,

- that the Council of the European Union amend its Decision 1999/70/EC(2) concerning the external auditors of the national central banks accordingy.

This Recommendation shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

This Recommendation is addressed to the Council of the European Union.

Done at Frankfurt am Main, 10 February 2000.

The President of the ECB

Willem F. DUISENBERG

(1) OJ C 411, 31.12.1998, p. 11.

(2) OJ L 22, 29.1.1999, p. 69.