The development of records management at the European Central Bank
| Published date | 03 October 2008 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/09565690810916410 |
| Date | 03 October 2008 |
| Pages | 164-169 |
| Author | Stuart Orr |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
OPINION PIECE
The development of records
management at the European
Central Bank
Stuart Orr
European Central Bank, Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt, Germany
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide background to the other papers in this issue of the
Records Management Journal.
Design/methodology/approach – The information in this paper is based on the author’s own
experience and discussions with colleagues with direct experience of the events described.
Findings – The European Central Bank’s approach to building capacity in records management, by
appointing in-house staff and investing in professional training and qualifications and fully
integrating records management and archives management, is an approach that has been shown to
work and deliver benefits.
Originality/value – The paper provides a description of an approach to developing a fully
integrated records and archives management service.
Keywords Records management,Archives management, Centralbanks, Europe
Paper type Viewpoint
Introduction
I am very pleased to be writing this paper as context for the remaining papers in this
issue, which have been written by the six records management specialists (RMSs) at
the European Central Bank (ECB).
The ECB’s main task is to maintain price stability in the euro area which
currentlycomprises the 15 European Union (EU) countries that have introduced the
euro as their national currency[1]. Together, with the central banks of the countries of
the EU, the ECB is a part of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB)[2].
A co-existing and overlapping grouping is the Eurosystem, which comprises the ECB
and the national central banks of countries that have adopted the euro.
It is a young organisation, celebrating its tenth anniversary this year (2008).
The route towards the establishment of the ECB can be traced through two other
bodies, the so-called Committee of Governors and the European Monetary Institute
(EMI). In May 1964, a committee was formed of the governors of the central banks in
the member states of the EEC. The purpose of this “Committee of Governors” was to
institutionalise cooperation between central banks within the EU. The Committee’s
initially limited mandate was considerably extended over the following years. In
January 1994, the EMI was created and the Committee of Governors ceased to exist[3].
The EMI had responsibility for enhancing the cooperation among EU central banks
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0956-5698.htm
This paper has been prepared with active contributions from colleagues directly involved in the
matters described.
RMJ
18,3
164
Records Management Journal
Vol. 18 No. 3, 2008
pp. 164-169
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0956-5698
DOI 10.1108/09565690810916410
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