Annual Report
The Annual Report describes the tasks and activities of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) and reports on the Eurosystem’s monetary policy. It is usually published in April of the following year and is presented by one of the ECB’s Executive Board members to the European Parliament at a public hearing. The Annual Report includes the Annual Accounts of the ECB. These are also published as a separate document several weeks before the Annual Report.
Unemployment continued to fall until year-end
Euro area labour markets continued to improve in 2019. The unemployment rate declined further to 7.6%, despite a growing workforce. However, the differences in unemployment rates across euro area countries remained high.
Annual inflation declined to 1.2%
Headline inflation in the euro area stood at 1.2% on average in 2019, down from 1.8% in 2018. The decline was driven by energy and food, two of the more volatile components of inflation.
Total value of euro banknotes in circulation
There were 24.1 billion euro banknotes in circulation at the end of last year. The roll-out of the Europa series – with its new and innovative security features – was completed with the introduction of the new €100 and €200 notes in May 2019.
Reporting obligations
The ECB is an independent institution which has discretion to use its intruments as necessary to carry out its tasks and fulfil its mandate. Accountability is the necessary counterpart to that independence.
- 7 May 2020
- Annual Report 2019EnglishOTHER LANGUAGES (21) +
- 1 April 2019
- Annual Report 2018EnglishOTHER LANGUAGES (21) +
- 9 April 2018
- Annual Report 2017EnglishOTHER LANGUAGES (21) +EnglishOTHER LANGUAGES (21) +
- 10 April 2017
- Annual Report 2016EnglishOTHER LANGUAGES (21) +EnglishOTHER LANGUAGES (21) +
- 7 April 2016
- Annual Report 2015EnglishOTHER LANGUAGES (21) +EnglishOTHER LANGUAGES (21) +
- 20 April 2015
- Annual Report 2014EnglishOTHER LANGUAGES (21) +
- 7 April 2014
- Annual Report 2013EnglishOTHER LANGUAGES (21) +
- 24 April 2013
- Annual Report 2012EnglishOTHER LANGUAGES (21) +
- 25 April 2012
- Annual Report 2011EnglishOTHER LANGUAGES (20) +
- 2 May 2011
- Annual Report 2010EnglishOTHER LANGUAGES (20) +
- 19 April 2010
- Annual Report 2009EnglishOTHER LANGUAGES (20) +
- 21 April 2009
- Annual Report 2008EnglishOTHER LANGUAGES (20) +
- 21 April 2008
- Annual Report 2007EnglishOTHER LANGUAGES (20) +
- 23 April 2007
- Annual Report 2006EnglishOTHER LANGUAGES (20) +
- 25 April 2006
- Annual Report 2005EnglishOTHER LANGUAGES (18) +
- 26 April 2005
- Annual report 2004EnglishOTHER LANGUAGES (18) +
- 8 April 2004
- Annual Report 2003
- 1 April 2003
- Annual Report 2002
- 1 April 2002
- Annual Report 2001
- 1 May 2001
- Annual report 2000
- 1 April 2000
- Annual Report 1999
- 1 April 1999
- Annual Report 1998
- 4 May 1998
- Annual Report 1997
- 24 April 1997
- Annual Report 1996
- 1 April 1995
- Annual Report 1994
- 1 April 1993
- Annual Report 1992
- 1 April 1992
- Annual Report 1991