TASKS AND POWERS OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK (ECB): A SYSTEMATIC OVERVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56461/SPZ_25401KJKeywords:
European Central Bank (ECB), Financial Stability, Banking Supervision.Abstract
The aim of this article is to provide a systematic overview of the tasks and powers of the European Central Bank (ECB) within the various systems and mechanisms in which it currently participates. It is structured in five sections: Section 1 highlights the key elements of the ECB as an EU institution under the EU Treaties. Section 2 briefly presents the various systems and mechanisms in which the ECB participates in and its tasks and powers therein. This is followed by Section 3, which examines its tasks and powers within the Eurosystem, and Section 4, which considers its financial stability- and banking supervision-related tasks and powers. Section 5 concludes. The cut-off date for information included herein is 6 December 2025.
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