More generally, the Eurosystem’s culture of very close and intimate cooperation at all levels of staff in the context of committees, working groups and taskforces support decision making in the Governing Council. The successful transition to the euro Cooperation and a sense of camaraderie were critical in preparing for our big-bang.
*  *  *  Ladies and Gentlemen, By the end of last month, the successful era of President Willem Duisenberg at the helm of the European Central Bank came to an end. At the beginning of this month, Mr. Jean-Claude Trichet became second President of the European Central Bank.