Social Dialogue with regard to the ESCB

6.4.3 Social Dialogue with regard to the ESCB

In 1999 the ECB established a voluntary Social Dialogue with the European trade union federations representing employees at the ESCB central banks:

• UNI-Europe (formerly Eurofiet); • the Standing Committee of the Unions of central bank staff (SCUCB); • the European Public Sector Union (EPSU).

The Social Dialogue was set up at the request of the European trade union federations and involves employee representatives from each of the ESCB central banks. It addresses various aspects of decisions (e.g. substance, rationale, timing) The Social Dialogue was set up at the request of the European trade union federations and involves employee representatives from each of the ESCB central banks. It addresses various aspects of decisions (e.g. substance, rationale, timing)

The Social Dialogue does not interfere with local staff relations at the ECB and the NCBs; this was stated explicitly in a document signed by the relevant parties in December 1999. Such relations are exclusively a matter for the ECB and the individual NCBs and are dealt with at the local level.

6 . 5 S E AT A N D P R E M I S E S

By common accord of the Heads of State or Government of the EU Member States of 29 October 1993, Frankfurt am Main became the seat of the ECB. 9

A Headquarters Agreement with the Federal Republic of Germany was signed on

18 September 1998 and entered into force on 4 March 1999. It deals with practical and technical aspects of the application of the Protocol on Privileges and Immunities of the European Communities.

The ECB is currently located in three rented buildings in the centre of Frankfurt. However, it has decided to construct its own premises. In March 2002 the ECB purchased land in the eastern part of Frankfurt on which to build; the site currently houses Frankfurt’s Grossmarkthalle (wholesale market), which is a listed building and is to be incorporated into the design of the new premises.

In November 2002 the ECB launched an international urban and architectural design competition for its new premises. 10 The ECB received applications from more than 300 architects from 31 countries and five continents. A Pre-Selection Committee consisting of five ECB experts supported by five architects chose 80 candidates, 70 established and 10 emerging young architects.

An international jury chaired by the ECB’s Vice-President Lucas D. Papademos and composed of 12 members (three members from the ECB, three members from the NCBs, five internationally renowned architects and one representative from the City of Frankfurt) shortlisted three winning designs in February 2004. 11 The selection was made on the basis of predetermined criteria such as the quality of the architectural design, originality, inspiration and innovation of the concept and its integration into the surrounding area.

All three prize-winners were then invited to participate in the project’s revision phase, which required the architecture offices to review their design proposals to take account of the specific recommendations and requirements of the jury, the ECB and the City of Frankfurt. At the end of the revision phase, in January 2005, the ECB decided in favour of the revised design concept of COOP

9 Decision taken by common Agreement between the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting at Head of State and Government level, on the location of the

seats of certain bodies and departments of the European Communities and of Europol (OJ C 323, 30.11.1993, p. 1). 10 See the ECB’s Press Release of 26 November 2002. 11 See the ECB’s Press Release of 13 February 2004.

HIMMELB(L)AU, the architects who had won the international urban planning and architectural design competition. Following the successful optimisation of the design concept, the planning phase started in March 2006. It is envisaged that construction will begin towards the end of 2007, with a projected completion date of the end of 2011.

Model of the ECB’s future headquarters.

ANNEX I