28/11/2003 (Agence Europe) - The President of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet, has written to the President of the Council, Franco Frattini, to point out that the bank is seriously concerned about the proposals made by the Italian Presidency concerning the bank, as, he states, they could seriously reduce the bank's autonomy. The Bank should be consulted beforehand on such proposals, Mr Trichet insists. Annex 9 of the overall Presidency proposal introduces into the ECG and ESCB statutes a new article that provides for these statutes to be amended by a Council law, enacting by unanimity, either on a proposal by the Commission and after consultation with the European Parliament and the ECB or on a recommendation of the ECG and after consultation of the Parliament and Commission. Annex 10 amends Article III-84 on the appointment of members of the ECB Executive Board, in order to ensure that the European Council proceeds to such appointments by qualified majority.