Dialogos

ECB Expands Access to Euro Liquidity Safety Mechanism for Central Banks

Published February 15, 2026, 17:02
ECB Expands Access to Euro Liquidity Safety Mechanism for Central Banks

The European Central Bank (ECB) announced the expansion of access to the euro liquidity safety mechanism to central banks worldwide, starting in the third quarter of 2026. Previously available only to a limited number of central banks, this mechanism provides funding during times of economic crisis. The ECB emphasizes the need for preparation in an unstable economic environment, characterized by increasing geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions. The move aims to prevent forced sales of euro-denominated securities during periods of tension and to ensure the availability of euro liquidity for central banks that need it. The ECB seeks to strengthen confidence in euro investments and transactions. The facility, known as 'repo lines,' had been used temporarily during the COVID-19 pandemic and after the Russian invasion of Ukraine to provide euro liquidity to certain central banks outside the eurozone. The ECB stresses that the availability of a lender of last resort boosts market confidence. This move comes at a time when the dollar is steadily losing value. ECB President Christine Lagarde has previously mentioned the possibility of strengthening the euro's role in the global economic system, highlighting the need for a more stable and reliable global currency.