Introductory text

THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 127 and 128 thereof,

Having regard to the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, and in particular Article 12.1 in conjunction with Article 3.1 and Articles 5, 16 and 24 thereof,

Whereas:

On 26 April 2019, based on the positive experience with joint procurement of goods and services, the Governing Council decided that the Eurosystem Procurement Coordination Office (EPCO) should be considered as permanent, while the hosting central bank will continue to be appointed in five-year intervals. The Banque centrale du Luxembourg is the current hosting central bank, from 1 January 2020 until 31 December 2024.

The rules governing the laying down of Eurosystem committees’ mandates, the appointment of their chairpersons and the provision to them of secretarial assistance are set out in Article 9.5 of Decision ECB/2004/2^f1 and further specified with regard to individual Eurosystem committees by specific decisions of the Governing Council. This legal framework applies to the European System of Central Banks Committee that is allocated the responsibility to steer Eurosystem joint procurement.

It is important to be able to take advantage of opportunities for joint procurement that may arise in specific defined areas and within specified limits in the course of the year following the approval of the annual procurement plan by the Governing Council.

In accordance with Article 7 of Guideline (EU) 2015/280 of the European Central Bank (ECB/2014/44)^f2, national central banks (NCBs) that use in-house printing works to produce euro banknotes must consider establishing appropriate forms of cooperation, including joint purchasing, in order to improve cost-efficiency. On 21 November 2017 the Governing Council envisaged the possibility for such NCBs that use in-house printing works to participate in joint procurement directly via EPCO as a way to facilitate their cooperation to fulfil their public task of banknote production in the best possible way. In order to ensure a level playing field with in-house printing works which are fully integrated in central banks, it should be possible for an in-house printing works which is a separate legal person but has a close connection to a central bank to participate in joint procurement directly via EPCO.

Therefore, Decision ECB/2008/17 of the European Central Bank^f3 should be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: