Relations of the ECB with other European institutions and fora  A new supranational institution in Europe also has to be assessed in terms of its relations with other institutions. Particularly with the European Parliament, the ECOFIN Council and the Eurogroup. Relations with the European Parliament and the ECOFIN Council are governed by the EC Treaty.
The crucial principle is that the independence of the ECB must not be called in question. The consequence of that high degree of independence is that only the principle of ex post reporting is enshrined in the EC Treaty, but not that of accountability.