The European Monetary Institute (1994-98)

The first section includes documentation on the foundation (and liquidation) of the EMI as well as on interdisciplinary activities, such as the financial, staff and building administration, record keeping and auditing.

The second section covers matters relating to the public relations activities of the EMI, particularly of Presidents Alexandre Lamfalussy and Wim Duisenberg but also of Director General Robert Raymond and certain members of staff. This includes speeches and visits they made as well as visitors they received at the EMI’s headquarters.

The third section includes the meeting documentation of the EMI Council and the Committee of Alternates.

The fourth section encompasses key activities in preparation for the third stage of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and the activities of expert groups in the field of monetary policy which had already started during the Committee of Governors period.

The fifth section comprises foreign exchange matters and documents of expert fora. Foreign exchange and its harmonisation in view of Stage Three of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) was a key activity of the EMI.

The sixth section covers matters relating to payment systems. The unification of the EU financial markets and the increasing digitisation of the banking sector required closer cooperation among central banks and other authorities at a supranational level.

The seventh section covers activities that were a continuation of former EMCF operations taken over by the EMI. These operations were conducted in the context of the EMS, which was replaced by the euro in 1999.

The eighth section covers matters relating to banking stability, risks and banking supervision of the EMI and related expert fora.

The ninth section concerns matters relating to the preparation of technical specifications, legal requirements and the design features of the future common banknotes undertaken by the EMI, central banks and, in particular, expert groups. It also covers records of a competition to select the most suitable banknote design.

The tenth section concerns the harmonisation and readjustment of statistical methods required by European economic and monetary unification and the cooperation of EMI/central bank expert groups and other bodies on statistical issues. The EMI also issued series of statistical data.

The eleventh section concerns accounting methods and monetary income as discussed in central banks, the EMI and, in particular, dedicated expert fora.

The twelfth section covers efforts to establish IT systems and infrastructure for the EMI and to prepare it for the future common activities.

The thirteenth section covers European and international relations of the EMI beyond the central banks.

The fourteenth section covers legal issues related to the EMI and its activities. While legal documents can be found in any section of the EMI fonds, this section covers the activities of legal expert fora and a series of fundamental texts.