ECB/ESCB Legal Conference 2026 - Panel 6

Panel 6 Non-judicial review: Central banks, auditors and ombudsman This panel examines the relationship between central banks and mechanisms of non-judicial review, focusing on auditors and ombudsman institutions. Cooperation with such institutions raises structurally sensitive questions at the intersection of independence, accountability, and control. Key issues include the scope and limits of audit and ombudsman mandates, the distinction between legality, performance, and maladministration review, and the constraints imposed by professional secrecy and market-sensitive information. How can meaningful oversight be exercised without encroaching upon central bank independence? The discussion also explores how these mechanisms operate beyond traditional monetary policy, notably in areas such as banking supervision, and how they interact across levels of governance. Particular attention is given to the roles of the European Court of Auditors, national supreme audit institutions, and the European Ombudsman, including potential overlaps and complementarities. Chair: Boris Vujčić, Vice-President, European Central Bank Panellists: • Menelaos Markakis, Associate Professor, Erasmus University Rotterdam • Jennifer King, Legal expert, European Ombudsman • Paola Chirulli, Professor, Universitá di Roma Sapienza Discussion with questions from the audience --- ‘Independence, not isolation: central banks and their connections with other authorities’. Monday, 28 and Tuesday, 29 September 2026, Hybrid event – by invitation only. This year’s conference focuses on the connections between central banks and other authorities. These relationships are often framed through the concepts of accountability and independence. The 2026 Legal Conference aims to revisit this debate by emphasizing cooperation and by discussing the arrangements that define modern central banking and banking supervision as collaborative endeavours. See the conference programme here: https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/conferences/html/20260928_ECB_ESCB_legal_conference.en.html