In October 1998, just before the start of the European Monetary Union, the Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) adopted a stability oriented monetary policy strategy. This strategy comprises three elements: First and foremost it contains a clear commitment to the primary goal of the ECB, which is to safeguard price stability. Price stability was defined as an annual increase in the price level of below two percent over the medium term.
1998年10月，就在欧洲货币联盟启动前，欧洲中央银行管理委员会（ECB）采纳了面向稳定的货币政策战略。这一战略由三个要素组成。第一个也是最重要的是它包含了欧洲央行首要目标的明确责任，即保护价格的稳定。 价格稳定就是 在一个中期阶段内每年的价格水平增长不超过2%。