20.1.2017   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 16/51

(1)

Decision (EU) 2015/774 of the European Central Bank (ECB/2015/10) (1) established a secondary markets public sector asset purchase programme (hereinafter the ‘PSPP’), which expanded the Eurosystem's existing asset purchase programmes to include public sector securities. Alongside the third covered bond purchase programme, the asset-backed securities purchase programme and the corporate sector purchase programme, the PSPP is part of the expanded asset purchase programme (APP). The APP aims to further enhance the transmission of monetary policy, facilitate the provision of credit to the euro area economy, ease borrowing conditions for households and firms and contribute to returning inflation rates to levels below but close to 2 % over the medium term, consistent with the primary objective of the European Central Bank (ECB) of maintaining price stability.

(2)

The purchase of assets under the APP is a proportionate measure for mitigating the risks to the outlook for price developments, as it will further ease monetary and financial conditions, including those relevant to the borrowing conditions of euro area non-financial corporations and households, thereby supporting aggregate consumption and investment spending in the euro area and ultimately contributing to a return of inflation rates to levels below but close to 2 % over the medium term. The APP fully complies with the obligations of the Eurosystem central banks under the Treaties, including the prohibition of monetary financing, and does not impair the operation of the Eurosystem in accordance with the principle of an open market economy with free competition.

(3)

On 8 December 2016, the Governing Council decided, in line with its mandate to ensure price stability, that certain parameters of the APP should be adjusted in order to achieve the APP's objectives. The adjustments are in line with the Governing Council's monetary policy mandate, fully comply with the obligations of the Eurosystem central banks under the Treaties and duly reflect risk management considerations.

(4)

More specifically, the intended horizon of purchases under the APP should be extended until the end of December 2017, or beyond, if necessary, and in any event until the Governing Council sees a sustained adjustment in the path of inflation that is consistent with its aim of achieving inflation rates below, but close to, 2 % over the medium term.

(5)

The liquidity provided to the market through the combined monthly purchases under the APP should continue to amount to EUR 80 billion until the end of March 2017. From April 2017, the combined monthly purchases under the APP should proceed at a pace of EUR 60 billion until the end of December 2017, or beyond, if necessary, and in any case until the Governing Council sees a sustained adjustment in the path of inflation consistent with its inflation aim. If, in the meantime, the outlook becomes less favourable, or if financial conditions become inconsistent with further progress towards a sustained adjustment in the path of inflation, the Governing Council intends to increase the programme in terms of size and/or duration.

(6)

To ensure the continued smooth implementation of purchases under the APP over the intended horizon, the maturity range of the PSPP should be broadened by decreasing the minimum remaining maturity for eligible securities from 2 years to 1 year. Moreover, purchases of securities under the APP with a yield to maturity below the interest rate on the ECB's deposit facility should be permitted to the extent necessary.

(7)

Therefore, Decision (EU) 2015/774 (ECB/2015/10) should be amended accordingly,

1.

in Article 3, paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:

‘3.   In order to be eligible for purchase under the PSPP, debt securities, within the meaning of paragraphs 1 to 2, shall have a minimum remaining maturity of 1 year and a maximum remaining maturity of 30 years at the time of their purchase by the relevant Eurosystem central bank. In order to facilitate smooth implementation, marketable debt instruments with a remaining maturity of 30 years and 364 days shall be eligible under the PSPP. National central banks shall also carry out substitute purchases of marketable debt securities issued by international organisations and multilateral development banks if the envisaged amounts to be purchased in marketable debt securities issued by central, regional or local governments and recognised agencies cannot be attained.’;

2.

in Article 3, paragraph 5 is replaced by the following:

‘5.   Purchases of nominal marketable debt instruments at a negative yield to maturity (or yield to worst) equal to or above the deposit facility rate are permitted. Purchases of nominal marketable debt instruments at a negative yield to maturity (or yield to worst) below the deposit facility rate are permitted to the extent necessary.’.