II The best and most lasting contribution that monetary policy can make to long-run economic welfare is that of safeguarding price stability. The Statute of the ESCB annexed to the EC Treaty spells out that objective correspondingly clearly. And the assignment of tasks by the Swedish Central Bank Act in the wording in force since the beginning of this year is equally unambiguous.
But it is worth recalling that despite intense debates on the best way forward, we share a common vision for the future of our monetary union: a sound currency, sound public finances, competitive economies, and a stable financial system. These are the principles enshrined in the Maastricht Treaty. With the adoption of the treaty, all euro-area member states committed to a European stability culture.