19.11.2021   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 413/1


COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2021/2018

of 15 November 2021

amending Decision 1999/70/EC concerning the external auditors of the national central banks, as regards the external auditors of Banc Ceannais na hÉireann/the Central Bank of Ireland

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to Protocol No 4 on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 27.1 thereof,

Having regard to the Recommendation of the European Central Bank of 29 September 2021 to the Council of the European Union on the external auditors of the Central Bank of Ireland (ECB/2021/44) (1),

Whereas:

(1)

The accounts of the European Central Bank (ECB) and of the national central banks of the Member States whose currency is the euro are to be audited by independent external auditors recommended by the Governing Council of the ECB and approved by the Council of the European Union.

(2)

In 2016, Banc Ceannais na hÉireann/the Central Bank of Ireland selected Mazars as its external auditors for the financial years 2016 to 2020.

(3)

The mandate of Banc Ceannais na hÉireann/the Central Bank of Ireland’s current external auditors, Mazars, ended after the audit for the financial year 2020. It is therefore necessary to appoint external auditors for the financial years 2021 and 2022.

(4)

Banc Ceannais na hÉireann/the Central Bank of Ireland intends to extend the mandate of Mazars for the financial years 2021 and 2022.

(5)

The Governing Council of the ECB recommended that Mazars be appointed as the external auditors of Banc Ceannais na hÉireann/the Central Bank of Ireland for the financial years 2021 to 2022.

(6)

Following the recommendation of the Governing Council of the ECB, Council Decision 1999/70/EC (2) should be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

In Article 1 of Decision 1999/70/EC, paragraph 5 is replaced by the following:

‘5.   Mazars are hereby approved as the external auditors of Banc Ceannais na hÉireann/the Central Bank of Ireland for the financial years 2021 to 2022.’.

Article 2

This Decision shall take effect on the date of its notification.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the European Central Bank.

Done at Brussels, 15 November 2021.

For the Council

The President

J. PODGORŠEK


(1)   OJ C 403, 6.10.2021, p. 1.

(2)  Council Decision 1999/70/EC of 25 January 1999 concerning the external auditors of the national central banks (OJ L 22, 29.1.1999, p. 69).