European Central Bank

The European Central Bank (ECB) is the central bank of the European Union, controlling the new Euro currency. The ECB forms along with the central banks of the Eurozone? member-states the [European System of Central Banks]? (ESCB).

The ECB is governed by a board of directors, headed by a President, and a board of governors, consisting of the members of the board of directors and representatives of the other central banks in the ESCB.

The organization of the ECB is modelled on that of the German Bundesbank? and Landsbank?s.

The first head of the ECB is [Wim Duisenberg]?, former president of [Nederlandse Bank]? the Dutch national bank, and former finance minister of The Netherlands.