Appraisal and preservation
Article 3
1. The ECB shall carry out an appraisal to identify which ECB archives documents held by it shall be preserved and which documents have no administrative or historical value and shall be disposed of. 2. The policy objectives of the appraisal carried out by the ECB are to identify and preserve document classes that: (a) provide evidence of the source of authority, foundation, organisation and functioning of the ECB and its predecessors, the ESCB, the Eurosystem, as well as any relevant Committees, Working Groups and Task Forces; (b) provide evidence of the activities of the ECB and its predecessors, the ESCB, the Eurosystem, as well as any relevant Committees, Working Groups and Task Forces relating to key functions and significant programmes and issues; (c) substantially contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the Member States whose currency is the euro and/or their institutions and their citizens; of the impact of the activities of the ECB and its predecessors and/or the ESCB and the Eurosystem on the external environment; and/or of the interaction of people and organisations with the Union institutions and bodies; (d) substantially contribute to the knowledge and understanding of aspects of the ECB’s and its predecessors’ corporate culture. 3. Irrespective of the outcome of the appraisal referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, the ECB shall hold ECB archives documents in compliance with the retention requirements set out in the ECB Filing and Retention Plan ( 9 ) .