The ECB and the 21 central banks that are signatories of the fourth Central Bank Gold Agreement have decided not to extend the agreement. The first agreement was signed in 1999 with the aim of coordinating the gold sales planned by the central banks.

At the end of 2023, Germany’s net external assets totalled €2,964 billion, thus amounting to just over 70% of Germany’s nominal gross domestic product (GDP). Overall, both assets and liabilities vis-à-vis non-residents rose further in 2023.