Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to Protocol No 4 on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 27.1 thereof,

Having regard to the Recommendation of the European Central Bank of 10 December 2015 to the Council of the European Union on the external auditors of Národná banka Slovenska (ECB/2015/45)^f1,

Whereas:

The accounts of the European Central Bank (ECB) and of the national central banks of the Member States whose currency is the euro are to be audited by independent external auditors recommended by the Governing Council of the ECB and approved by the Council.

The mandate of the external auditors of Národná banka Slovenska expired after the audit for the financial year 2014. It is therefore necessary to appoint external auditors from the financial year 2015.

Národná banka Slovenska has selected Ernst & Young Slovakia, spol. s r.o., as its external auditors for the financial years 2015 and 2016.

The Governing Council of the ECB has recommended that Ernst & Young Slovakia, spol. s r.o., should be appointed as the external auditors of Národná banka Slovenska for the financial years 2015 and 2016.

Following the recommendation of the Governing Council of the ECB, Council Decision 1999/70/EC^f2 should be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: