21/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, the European Central Bank announced that it had made a net profit of EUR 10822 billion in 2001 and had transferred 80% of this amount to the central banks in the Euro-zone. In 2000 the ECB made a net profit of EUR 1.99 bn. Total net interest was EUR 771 million as opposed to EUR 1.414 bn for 200, a reduction due essentially to the fall in US interest rates, explained the ECB. The ECB also explained that administrative expenses increased by EUR 283 million in 2001 compared to EUR 163 million in 2000 due to costs incurred on the Euro 2002 Information directive.