Council Decision (EU) 2021/1169 of 13 July 2021 amending Decision 1999/70/EC concerning the external auditors of the national central banks, as regards the external auditors of Národná banka Slovenska

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to Protocol No 4 on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 27.1 thereof,

Having regard to the Recommendation of the European Central Bank of 6 May 2021 to the Council of the European Union on the external auditors of Národná banka Slovenska (ECB/2021/22)⁽¹⁾,

Whereas:

1. The accounts of the European Central Bank (ECB) and of the national central banks of the Member States whose currency is the euro are to be audited by independent external auditors recommended by the Governing Council of the ECB and approved by the Council of the European Union.

2. In 2017, Národná banka Slovenska selected Deloitte Audit s.r.o. as its external auditors for the financial years 2017 to 2020, with an option to extend the mandate to the financial years 2021 to 2023.

3. The mandate of Národná banka Slovenska’s current external auditors, Deloitte Audit s.r.o., ended after the audit for the financial year 2020 in accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2017/1849⁽²⁾.

4. Národná banka Slovenska intends to extend the mandate of Deloitte Audit s.r.o. to the financial year 2021. This extension is possible in accordance with the contractual arrangements between Národná banka Slovenska and Deloitte Audit s.r.o.

5. The Governing Council of the ECB has recommended that Deloitte Audit s.r.o. be appointed as the external auditors of Národná banka Slovenska for the financial year 2021.

6. Following the recommendation of the Governing Council of the ECB, Council Decision 1999/70/EC⁽³⁾ should be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: