The National Bank of Belgium (NBB) is Belgium's central bank since 1850. It contributes to a stable and sustainable economic and financial environment by ensuring the stability of the prices and the financial system, by guaranteeing the security of banknotes and the efficiency of payment systems, and by providing data and analysis.
As a modern central bank at the heart of the Eurosystem, the NBB serves the public interest. From its independent position and aided by its analyses, statistics and research, it participates in the public debate in a respectful, careful and socially responsible manner.
The NBB's Legal Department provides general advice, expertise and assistance in various fields of law. Serving the NBB's bodies and entities, it acts as an expert and adviser on legal issues that arise; it organises the representation and defence of the NBB's interests before the judicial and administrative courts; it intervenes in the negotiations that precede the conclusion of agreements or contracts binding on the NBB and it monitors legal developments in matters that may be of interest to the NBB.
The Legal Department also participates actively in the legal work of the European Central Bank and other international bodies. Finally, it participates in the preparation of legal and regulatory texts, at both national and European level, in the Bank's fields of competence.
The Legal Department is composed of 25 Legal Counsels, divided into 5 groups (Corporate, Prudential, Financial, Enterprise and Audit), and is supported by an administrative team of 8 people.
You will be part of the Corporate Group, which consists of 4 other Legal Counsels and a Group Head. The Corporate Group is responsible for the legal monitoring of the NBB's institutional operations, in particular all matters relating to the specific status* of the NBB as a public institution and listed company (corporate governance, administrative bodies, sui generis legal framework, complementary application of corporate law, accounting law, corporate tax and VAT), public and administrative law aspects (including legal assistance in public procurement procedures and issues relating to publicity of the administration), the legal framework for the production and emission of banknotes, as well as legal issues relating to the Bank's insurance policies.
As a Legal Counsel, you will be involved in many of the legal areas in which the Group is active. Your main task will be to ensure, under the direction of the Group Head, the legal follow-up of important and sensitive files related to the functioning of the NBB as a listed company. More specifically, you will:
In addition, you will develop expertise in institutional matters, with regard to the application of both European and national law. You will also be involved in the other areas of law covered by the Group (e.g. public procurement and, where appropriate, proceedings before the Council of State).
* The NBB has a specific capital structure, as 50% of the shares are held by the Belgian State and 50% by private individuals, the NBB share being listed on Euronext Brussels
