# Decision (EU) 2020/614 of the European Central Bank of 30 April 2020 amending Decision (EU) 2019/1311 on a third series of targeted longer-term refinancing operations (ECB/2020/25), Introduction: Introductory text

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

Decision (EU) 2020/614 of the European Central Bank
of 30 April 2020
amending Decision (EU) 2019/1311 on a third series of targeted longer-term refinancing operations (ECB/2020/25)
THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the first indent of Article 127(2) thereof,
Having regard to the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, and in particular the first indent of Article 3.1, Article 12.1, the second indent of Article 18.1 and the second indent of Article 34.1 thereof,
Having regard to Guideline (EU) 2015/510 of the European Central Bank of 19 December 2014 on the implementation of the Eurosystem monetary policy framework (General Documentation Guideline) (ECB/2014/60),
Whereas:
(1)
Pursuant to Article 1(4) of Guideline (EU) 2015/510 (ECB/2014/60), the Governing Council may, at any time, change the tools, instruments, requirements, criteria and procedures for the implementation of Eurosystem monetary policy operations.
(2)
On 22 July 2019, in pursuing its price stability mandate and to preserve favourable bank lending conditions and support the accommodative stance of monetary policy in Member States whose currency is the euro, the Governing Council adopted Decision (EU) 2019/1311 of the European Central Bank (ECB/2019/21). This Decision provided for a third series of targeted longer-term refinancing operations (TLTROs-III) to be conducted over the period from September 2019 to March 2021.
(3)
On 12 March 2020, in order to support bank lending to those most affected by the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in particular small and medium-sized enterprises, the Governing Council decided to change certain key parameters of TLTRO-III. On 16 March 2020, the Governing Council adopted Decision (EU) 2020/407 of the European Central Bank (ECB/2020/13) to implement some of these changes. This Decision is necessary to implement the additional changes decided by the Governing Council, in particular to provide for a temporary reduction in interest rates applied to all TLTROs-III and to lower the lending performance threshold under certain conditions.
(4)
As regards the decision to lower the lending performance threshold, the Governing Council decided, on 12 March 2020, that it should be reduced to 0% with respect to the period between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021. In order to also take into account the credit already provided by banks since the start of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis in Europe, the starting date of that period is moved to 1 March 2020 as decided on 30 April 2020, while the ending date remains unchanged at 31 March 2021. In addition, to cater for the expected decline in bank lending since 1 March 2020, the deviation from the benchmark outstanding amount to achieve the maximum discount through the previous lending performance criteria is reduced to 1.15% from 2.5%.
(5)
Moreover, on 30 April 2020, in order to further support the provision of credit to households and firms in the face of the prevalent economic disruptions and heightened uncertainty, the Governing Council decided to provide for an additional temporary reduction in interest rates applied to all TLTROs-III under certain conditions.
(6)
In order to apply these adjusted parameters with immediate effect, this Decision should enter into force without delay.
(7)
Therefore, Decision (EU) 2019/1311 (ECB/2019/21) should be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudn/2020/614/introduction (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2020-614/introduction
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.