6.4.2011 Official Journal of the European Union L 91/1 II (Non-legislative acts) DECISIONS EUROPEAN COUNCIL DECISION of 25 March 2011 amending Article 136 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union with regard to a stability mechanism for Member States whose currency is the euro (2011/199/EU) THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 48(6) thereof, Having regard to the proposal for revising Article 136 of the President of the European Council to undertake consul- tations with the members of the European Council on a limited treaty change required to that effect. Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union submitted to (3) On 16 December 2010, the Belgian Government the European Council by the Belgian Government on submitted, in accordance with Article 48(6), first 16 December 2010, subparagraph, of the TEU, a proposal for revising Article 136 of the TFEU by adding a paragraph under ) o ] which the Member States whose currency is the euro Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament ('), may establish a stability mechanism to be activated if indispensable to safeguard the stability of the euro area Having regard to the opinion of the European Commission (2), as a whole and stating that the granting of any required financial assistance under the mechanism will be made o o , subject to strict conditionality. At the same time, the After obtaining the opinion of the European Central Bank (%), European Council adopted conclusions about the future stability mechanism (paragraphs 1 to 4). Whereas: (1)  Article 48(6) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) allows the European Council, acting by unanimity after (4 The stability mechanism will provide the necessary tool consulting the European Parliament, the Commission for dealing with such cases of risk to the financial and, in certain cases, the European Central Bank, to stability of the euro area as a whole as have been adopt a decision amending all or part of the provisions experienced in 2010, and hence help preserve the of Part Three of the Treaty on the Functioning of the economic and financial stability of the Union itself. At European Union (TFEU). Such a decision may not its meeting of 16 and 17 December 2010, the European increase the competences conferred on the Union in Council agreed that, as this mechanism is designed to the Treaties and its entry into force is conditional upon safeguard the financial stability of the euro area as its subsequent approval by the Member States in whole, Article 122(2) of the TFEU will no longer be accordance  with  their  respective  constitutional needed for such purposes. The Heads of State or requirements. Government therefore agreed that it should not be used for such purposes. (2) At the meeting of the European Council of 28 and 29 October 2010, the Heads of State or Government agreed on the need for Member States to establish a permanent crisis mechanism to safeguard the financial () On 16 December 2010, the European Council decided to stability of the euro area as a whole and invited the () Opinion of 23 March 2011 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (%) Opinion of 15 February 2011 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (}) Opinion of 17 March 2011 (not yet published in the Official Journal). consult, in accordance with Article 48(6), second subparagraph, of the TEU, the European Parliament and the Commission, on the proposal. It also decided to consult the European Central Bank. The European Parliament ("), the Commission (}) and the European Central Bank (%), respectively, adopted opinions on the proposal.