European Central Bank: appointment of a member of the Executive Board

The European Parliament decided, by 319 votes to 202, with 171 abstentions, to deliver a favourable opinion on the Council recommendation to appoint Frank Elderson as a member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank (ECB).

On 14 October 2020, the European Council consulted the Parliament on the appointment of Frank Elderson as a member of the Executive Board of the ECB for a term of office of eight years, starting on 15 December 2020.

The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs assessed the qualifications of the proposed candidate and subsequently held a hearing of the candidate on 9 November 2020.

Parliament noted that to date, the members of the Executive Board composing the Governing Council of the ECB are all men. It recalled in this respect its reservations regarding the appointment procedure of the members of the ECB's Executive Board, calling for its improvement. It requested that it receive, in good time, a gender-balanced shortlist with at least two names.

Parliament considered that all EU and national institutions and bodies should implement concrete measures to ensure gender balance.