Brussels, 15/04/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, the EU Council of Ministers recommended to the Heads of State and Government the nomination of the Austrian Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell to the position of executive board member of the European Central Bank (ECB) for an eight-year period with effect next 1 June. The present Deputy-Governor of the Austrian Central Bank will replace the Finn Sirkka Hämälainen whose mandate expires on 31 May. This recommendation, which was adopted without debate by the Council, is submitted for decision to the Heads of State and Government of the member states that have adopted the Euro, after consultation with the European Parliament and the ECB Board of Governors. The question of the Finns succession had been broached during the informal meeting, in Athens, of Economic and Finance Minister of the EU member states, but had not be decided due to Belgian reservations based on their desire not to further postpone the nomination of Paul de Grauwe (see EUROPE of 8 April 2003, p. 8 and p. 9).