Rome, Dec. 3 (LaPresse) – "The ECB does not have a clear understanding of the concrete purpose of the proposed provision. For this reason, and in the absence of explanations regarding the purpose of the proposed provision, the Italian authorities are invited to reconsider it, also in order to preserve the independent performance of the fundamental tasks of the Bank of Italy related to the ESCB (European System of Central Banks) under the Treaty." This is what the ECB states with reference to the Brothers of Italy amendment to the budget law concerning the Bank of Italy’s gold reserves, which stipulates that the gold should belong to the State on behalf of the people. The opinion, previewed by the Corriere della Sera, has been published on the ECB’s website. The European Central Bank had received a request for an opinion from the Ministry of Economy and Finance. In the text, the ECB notes that "if the Italian authorities consider it necessary to clarify the legal ownership of the gold reserves, the Bank of Italy must be consulted in order to ensure that the requirements imposed by the Treaty, and in particular the independence of the Bank of Italy laid down in Article 130 of the Treaty, continue to be fully respected".