Date: 2022-02-25Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Decision (EU) 2022/310 of the European Central Bank of 17 February 2022 amending Decision (EU) 2019/1743 of the European Central Bank on the remuneration of holdings of excess reserves and of certain deposits (ECB/2022/5)
Executive Summary:
This Decision (EU) 2022/310 amends Decision (EU) 2019/1743 regarding the remuneration of certain deposits held with the ECB. It aligns the remuneration of specific public entities' deposits with the remuneration of government deposits to ensure consistency across the Eurosystem. The decision comes into force five days after publication and applies from 4 April 2022.
Key Points / Main Content:
Remuneration of Certain Deposits Held with the ECB:
* Accounts maintained with the ECB according to specified Decisions (ECB/2003/14, ECB/2010/31, ECB/2010/17) and Regulation (EU) 2020/672) are remunerated at:
* Zero per cent or the euro short-term rate (STR), whichever is lower, if the deposit facility rate is zero or positive.
* The deposit facility rate or the euro short-term rate (STR), whichever is lower, if the deposit facility rate is negative.
* Deposits held in advance of a payment date are remunerated at zero per cent or the euro short-term rate (STR), whichever is higher.
* The dedicated account maintained with the ECB according to Article 132 of Commission Implementing Decision C(2021)2502 is remunerated for prudential cash holdings at zero per cent or the euro short-term rate (STR), whichever is higher, except when the aggregate amount exceeds EUR 20 billion.
* Amounts exceeding EUR 20 billion are remunerated at:
* Zero per cent or the euro short-term rate (STR), whichever is lower, if the deposit facility rate is zero or positive.
* The deposit facility rate or the euro short-term rate (STR), whichever is lower, if the deposit facility rate is negative.
Entry into Force and Application:
* The Decision enters into force on the fifth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
* It applies from 4 April 2022.
Impact Analysis:
European Central Bank (ECB):
* Impact: The ECB is responsible for implementing the amended remuneration rules for deposits.
* Action Required: Amend relevant contractual arrangements and systems to reflect the new remuneration rules from 4 April 2022.
Public Entities of the Union holding deposits with the ECB:
* Impact: These entities will experience a change in the remuneration of their deposits held with the ECB.
* Action Required: Review and adapt to the new remuneration conditions for their deposits, effective from 4 April 2022.
Key Entities Referenced
European Central Bank: The central bank of the Eurozone, responsible for monetary policy.
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: A key treaty of the European Union, defining its scope and operations.
Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank: The legal framework governing the ESCB and ECB.
Eurosystem: The monetary authority of the Eurozone, comprising the ECB and the national central banks of member states.
Christine Lagarde: The President of the European Central Bank.
Frankfurt am Main: City in Hesse, Germany; seat of the European Central Bank.
Council Regulation EU 2020/672: A regulation establishing a European instrument for temporary support to mitigate unemployment risks in an emergency (SURE) following the COVID-19 outbreak.
Decision EU 2019/1743: Decision of the European Central Bank on the remuneration of holdings of excess reserves and of certain deposits.
L 46/140 EN Official Journal of the European Union 25.2.2022
DECISION (EU) 2022/310 OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK
of 17 February 2022
amending Decision (EU) 2019/1743 of the European Central Bank on the remuneration of holdings
of excess reserves and of certain deposits (ECB/2022/5)
the governing council of the European Central Bank,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the first indent of Article 127(2)
thereof,
Having regard to the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, and in particular
the first indent of Article 3.1 and Articles 17 to 19 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) The remuneration of certain deposits of public entities of the Union with the European Central Bank (ECB) (other
than those exempted from negative interest rates) as provided for in Decision (EU) 2019/1743 of the European
Central Bank (ECB/2019/31)(1) should be aligned with the remuneration of government deposits in accordance
with Guideline (EU) 2019/671 of the European Central Bank (ECB/2019/7)(2), in order to ensure consistency in the
remuneration of comparable deposits across the Eurosystem. To allow amendment of the relevant contractual
arrangements between the ECB and public entities of the Union accordingly, this Decision should apply from
4 April 2022.
(2) Therefore, Decision (EU) 2019/1743 (ECB/2019/31) should be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Amendment
Article 2 of Decision (EU) 2019/1743 (ECB/2019/31) is replaced by the following:
‘Article 2
Remuneration of certain deposits held with the ECB
1. Accounts maintained with the ECB in accordance with Decision ECB/2003/14 (1)*, Decision ECB/2010/31 (2)*,
Decision ECB/2010/17 (3)* and Council Regulation (EU) 2020/672 (4)* shall be remunerated as follows:
(a) if the deposit facility rate on the relevant calendar day is zero or higher (positive), at zero per cent or the euro short-
term rate (€STR), whichever is lower;
(b) if the deposit facility rate on the relevant calendar day is lower than zero (negative), at the deposit facility rate or the
euro short-term rate (€STR), whichever is lower.
However, when deposits need to be held in those accounts in advance of the date on which a payment must be made in
accordance with the legal or contractual rules applicable to the relevant facility, such deposits shall be remunerated during
this advance period at zero per cent or the euro short-term rate (€STR), whichever is higher.
2. The dedicated account maintained with the ECB in accordance with Article 13(2) of Commission Implementing
Decision of 14 April 2021 establishing the necessary arrangements for the administration of the borrowing operations
under Council Decision (EU, Euratom) 2020/2053 and for the lending operations related to loans granted in accordance
with Article 15 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council (5)* for the purposes of
(1) Decision (EU) 2019/1743 of the European Central Bank of 15 October 2019 on the remuneration of holdings of excess reserves and
of certain deposits (ECB/2019/31) (OJ L 267, 21.10.2019, p. 12).
(2) Guideline (EU) 2019/671 of the European Central Bank of 9 April 2019 on domestic asset and liability management operations by the
national central banks (ECB/2019/7) (OJ L 113, 29.4.2019, p. 11).25.2.2022 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 46/141
prudential cash holdings as referred to in that Article shall be remunerated at zero per cent or the euro short-term rate
(€STR), whichever is higher, except where the aggregate amount of deposits held in that dedicated account exceeds
EUR 20 billion, in which case the amount in excess shall be remunerated as follows:
(a) if the deposit facility rate on the relevant calendar day is zero or higher (positive), at zero per cent or the euro short-
term rate (€STR), whichever is lower;
(b) if the deposit facility rate on the relevant calendar day is lower than zero (negative), at the deposit facility rate or the
euro short-term rate (€STR), whichever is lower.
_____________
(1)* Decision ECB/2003/14 of 7 November 2003 concerning the administration of the borrowing-and-lending operations
concluded by the European Community under the medium-term financial assistance facility (OJ L 297, 15.11.2003,
p. 35).
(2)* Decision ECB/2010/31 of 20 December 2010 concerning the opening of accounts for the processing of payments in
connection with EFSF loans to Member States whose currency is the euro (OJ L 10, 14.1.2011, p. 7).
(3)* Decision ECB/2010/17 of 14 October 2010 concerning the administration of the borrowing and lending operations
concluded by the Union under the European financial stabilisation mechanism (OJ L 275, 20.10.2010, p. 10).
(4)* Council Regulation (EU) 2020/672 of 19 May 2020 on the establishment of a European instrument for temporary
support to mitigate unemployment risks in an emergency (SURE) following the COVID-19 outbreak (OJ L 159,
20.5.2020, p. 1).
(5)* C/2021/2502 final.’.
Article 2
Entry into force
1. This Decision shall enter into force on the fifth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the
European Union.
2. It shall apply from 4 April 2022.
Done at Frankfurt am Main, 17 February 2022.
For the Governing Council of the ECB
The President of the ECB
Christine LAGARDE