Limits in Terms of Eligible Collateral and Policy Risks of an Extension of the ECB’s Quantitative Easing Programme

In December 2015 the European Central Bank (ECB) announced a further expansion of its asset purchase programme (EAPP). The expanded EAPP provides for a six months prolongation of the duration (initially foreseen for the period March 2015 - September 2016), an inclusion of certain securities issued by regional and local governments in the list of eligible assets and cutting the deposit facility rate by 10bp i.e. to - 0.30%.