The official site of Italy's central bank

Legal framework

The European System of Central Banks (ESCB) and the European Central Bank (ECB) were created under Article 8 of the Treaty Establishing the European Community (EC Treaty). They act under the powers conferred upon them by the Treaty and by the Statute of the ESCB/ECB, which are the prime sources of law.
The main Treaty provisions on the ESCB and the ECB are set forth in Articles 105-124. The Statute is annexed as Protocol 18 to the Treaty, of which it thus forms an integral part.

• Consolidated versions of the Treaty on European Union and of the Treaty establishing the European Community

• Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank