w
relating to its application. Such proceedings shall be instituted within
two months of the publication of the decision or of its notification to the
plaintiff or, in the absence thereof, of the day on which it came to
knowledge of the latter, as the case may be.
14.3. The national central banks are an integral part of the ESCB and
shall act in accordance with the guidelines and instructions of ECB.
The Governing Council shall take the necessary steps to ensure
compliance with the guidelines and instructions of the ECB, and shall
require that any necessary information be given to it.
14.4 National central banks may perform functions other than those
specified in this Statute unless the Governing Council finds, by a
majority of two thirds of the votes cast, that these interfere with the
objectives and tasks of the ESCB. Such functions shall be performed
on the responsibility and liability of national central banks and shall
not be regarded as being part of the functions of the ESCB.
ARTICLE 15
Reporting commitments.
15.1. The ECB shall draw up and publish reports on the activities of
the ESCB at least quarterly.
15.2. A consolidated financial statement of the ESCB shall be
published each week.
15.3. In accordance with Article 109b(3) of this Treaty, the ECB shall
address an annual report on the activities of the ESCB and on the
monetary policy of both the previous and the current year to the
European Parliament, the Council and the Commission, and also the
European Council.
15.4. The reports and statements referred to in this Article shall be
made available to interested parties free of charge.
ARTICLE 16
Bank notes.
In accordance with Article 105a(1) of this Treaty, the Governing Council
shall have the exclusive right to authorize the issue of bank notes
within the Community. The ECB and the national central banks may
issue such notes. The bank notes issued by the ECB and the national
central banks shall be the only such notes to have the status of legal
tender within the Community.
The ECB shall respect as far as possible existing practices regarding
the issue and design of bank notes.

CHAPTER IV
MONETARY FUNCTIONS AND OPERATIONS OF THE ESCB
ARTICLE 17
Accounts with the ECB and the national central banks.
In order to conduct their operations, the ECB and the national central
banks may open accounts for credit institutions, public entities and
other market participants and accept assets, including book-entry