Decision taken, on 29 October 1993, by common agreement between the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting at Head of State and Government level, on the location of the seats of certain bodies and departments of the European Communities and of Europol.

Protocol annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaties establishing the European Community, the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Atomic Energy Community by the Treaty of Amsterdam of 2 October 1997.

The Eurotower, in Frankfurt-am-Main, was the home of the European Monetary Institute (EMI) from 1 January 1994 before becoming the seat of the European Central Bank (ECB) on 30 June 1998.

This 50-metre tall euro monument stands outside the offices of the European Central Bank. It was officially inaugurated during the celebrations to mark the launch of the euro on 1 January 2002.

The ECB workforce is growing and the Eurotower, home to the Bank in Frankfurt, is getting too cramped. The plan to move the ECB was launched in 2001.