(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

−   having regard to the Council's recommendation of 15 July 2003 (C5-0332/2003),

−   having regard to Article 112(2)b of the EC Treaty,

−   having regard to Article 50 of the Protocol on the Statute of the ESCB and of the ECB,

−   having regard to Rule 36 of its Rules of Procedure,

−   having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (A5-0307/2003),

A.   whereas at its meeting of 11 September 2003 the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs heard Mr Jean-Claude Trichet, the Council's nominee for the office of President of the European Central Bank, for a term of office of 8 years, and at the same meeting of 11 September 2003 considered the nominee's qualifications in the light of the criteria laid down by Article 112 of the EC Treaty,

B.   whereas the nominee has submitted a written statement and has given oral explanations in the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs on the 11 September 2003 for the consideration of the Parliament,

C.   whereas the ECB has to be politically independent, whereas, however, the nomination of the candidates for the ECB Executive Board is a political act,

1.  Confirms the appointment of Mr Jean-Claude Trichet as an appropriate candidate for the office of President of the European Central Bank;

2.  Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the President of the Council, for forwarding to the governments of the Member States.