Schedules for the meetings of the Governing Council and the General Council of the ECB and the related press conferences in 2004

The Governing Council has agreed that in the year 2004 its meetings will continue to be held, as a rule, on a Thursday in the first and third week of each month. As in 2003, the meeting schedule of the Governing Council also accommodates special holiday situations.

As announced on 8 November 2001, the stance of the ECB's monetary policy will continue to be assessed by the Governing Council, as a rule, only at the first meeting of the month. Accordingly, interest rate decisions will normally be taken during that meeting. Whenever it holds a second meeting in the month, the Governing Council will deal with issues related to other tasks and responsibilities of the ECB and the Eurosystem. Obviously, if warranted by the circumstances, the Governing Council can still decide to change the key ECB interest rates at any time, regardless of previously scheduled meetings. The meeting schedule of the Governing Council in 2004 also takes into account the decision of 23 January 2003 on the timing of the reserve maintenance period. These periods will start on the settlement day of the main refinancing operation (MRO) following the Governing Council meeting at which the monthly assessment of the monetary policy stance is pre-scheduled.

Also in line with established practice, two meetings of the Governing Council will again be held outside Frankfurt: the first one on 6 May 2004 will be hosted by Suomen Pankki – Finlands Bank and the second one on 7 October 2004 by the Nationale Bank van België/Banque Nationale de Belgique.

In addition, the General Council has agreed that the current practice of having quarterly meetings is to be maintained.

Finally, the current regime for holding press conferences will continue, i.e. they will take place after the first Governing Council meeting in each month, with the exception of the month of August.

Meetings of the Governing Council of the ECB in 2004

Meetings of the General Council of the ECB in 2004

Press conferences in 2004