European Monetary System

E23372

The European Monetary System was a regional arrangement among European Community countries, established in 1979, to stabilize exchange rates and coordinate monetary policy as a step toward deeper economic and monetary integration.


Statements (47)
Predicate Object
instanceOf European economic integration initiative
exchange rate mechanism
monetary system
aim exchange rate stability among participating European currencies
monetary policy coordination
progress toward economic and monetary union
reduction of exchange rate variability
appliesToJurisdiction European Community
basedOn central rates against the European Currency Unit
fixed but adjustable exchange rate parities
contributedTo Maastricht Treaty convergence process
creation of the euro
coordinatedBy Committee of Governors of the Central Banks of the Member States of the European Economic Community
country European Community member states
currency European Currency Unit
endTime 1999
follows parity grid of bilateral central rates
hasEffect convergence of inflation rates among member states
greater monetary policy coordination in Europe
reduction of currency volatility in Western Europe
hasPart European Currency Unit
European Monetary Cooperation Fund
Exchange Rate Mechanism
historicalPeriod Cold War era
inception March 13, 1979
legalBasis European Council resolutions of 1978–1979
location Western Europe
nonParticipant United Kingdom at inception
operatedBy central banks of participating European Community countries
participant Benelux countries
Denmark
France
Germany
Ireland
Italy
precededBy Bretton Woods system
replacedBy Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union
euro area
replaces European “snake in the tunnel” mechanism
significantEvent 1992–1993 ERM crisis
widening of ERM fluctuation bands in 1993
withdrawal of the British pound from the ERM in 1992
startTime 1979
uses exchange rate bands
medium-term financial assistance mechanisms
mutual central bank intervention
short-term monetary support mechanisms

Referenced by (9)

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