Specific national central bank functions  This leads me directly to the fourth function of the national central banks. In addition to their role as an “integral part of the Eurosystem”, the national central banks have assumed a number of specific tasks with which they have been entrusted over time.
Speaking also on behalf of our central bank partners, I would like to say that we are very much looking forward to these coming nine months. Later during this press conference I will confirm the commitment of the ECB and our partner national central banks to implementing the programme by signing a protocol which confirms the common goals of all stakeholders in the programme.