PURPOSE: to appoint Jürgen Stark as a member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision taken by common accord of the Governments of the Member States having the Euro as their currency at the level of Heads of State or Government.

CONTENT: Based on the recommendations of the Council, as well as the opinions of both the European Parliament and the Governing Council of the European Central Bank, the Heads of Government, and those Member States participating in the EURO currency, have decided to appoint Mr Jürgen Stark as a member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank. His term of office will last for eight years, starting from 1 June 2006.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Pervenche BERÈS (PES, FR), and delivered a favourable opinion on the Council recommendation to appoint Jürgen Stark as Executive Board Member of the European Central Bank. Members voted in a secret ballot with 359 votes in favour to 110 votes against with 35 abstentions.

The committee adopted the report by its chair, Pervenche BERÈS (PES, FR), approving the appointment of Mr Jürgen STARK to the Executive Board of the European Central Bank. The report was adopted (under the consultation procedure) following a ninety-minute hearing during which Mr Stark strongly supported the ECB's existing policies.

OPINION OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK :

By letter of 15 February 2006, the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union requested the Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) to deliver its opinion on Council Recommendation 2006/108/EC of 14 February 2006 on the appointment of a member of the Executive Board of the ECB. This recommendation appoints Mr Jürgen Stark as member of the Executive Board for a term of office of eight years with effect from1 June 2006.

The Governing Council of the ECB is of the opinion that the proposed candidate is a person of recognised standing and professional experience in monetary or banking matters and it has no objection to the Council's recommendation on the appointment of the proposed candidate.

PURPOSE : to recommend Mr Jürgen STARK as a member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank.

PROPOSED ACT : Council Recommendation 2006/108/EC on the appointment of a member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank.

CONTENT : t he term of office of Mr Otmar ISSING expires on 31 May 2006. Since a member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank must be appointed, the Council recommended that Mr Jürgen STARK be appointed a member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank for a term of office of eight years with effect from 1 June 2006 .

This Recommendation will be submitted for a decision to the Heads of State or Government of the Member States of the EC whose currency is the euro, after consulting the European Parliament and the Governing Council of the European Central Bank.

PURPOSE : to recommend Mr Jürgen STARK as a member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank.

PROPOSED ACT : Council Recommendation 2006/108/EC on the appointment of a member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank.

CONTENT : t he term of office of Mr Otmar ISSING expires on 31 May 2006. Since a member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank must be appointed, the Council recommended that Mr Jürgen STARK be appointed a member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank for a term of office of eight years with effect from 1 June 2006 .

This Recommendation will be submitted for a decision to the Heads of State or Government of the Member States of the EC whose currency is the euro, after consulting the European Parliament and the Governing Council of the European Central Bank.