Development, application and interpretation of rules
Article 26
1. In interpreting this Decision, account shall be taken of the preparatory work, the accounting principles harmonised by Union law and generally accepted accounting principles. 2. If a specific accounting treatment is not laid down in this Decision and in the absence of a decision to the contrary by the Governing Council, the ECB shall follow valuation principles in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union that are relevant to the ECB’s activities and accounts. 3. In extremely rare circumstances where the Governing Council concludes that compliance with a requirement of this Decision would not result in a fair presentation of the annual accounts, the ECB shall depart from that requirement and shall provide the reasons in the notes to the annual accounts.