European Central Bank ECB: appointment of Mr. Jürgen Stark as member of the Executive Board, 1st June 2006

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.