e.c.b. is also supposed to promote growth politicians aren't allowed to intervene. the powerful institution has 2 main instruments number one the key interest rate the e.c.b. lends money to banks and hasn't charged interest on it since 2016 by doing so it wants to encourage those banks to create cheap loans in turn boosting the economy by promoting investment and outlay. inflation is also supposed to rise the central bank wants it at just under 2 percent if it comes in at less the danger grows that prices could fall long term. the e.c.b. can also buy bonds which is supposed to strengthen national economies it holds private and public sector securities totaling around $2.00 trillion euros. by buying the bonds the central bank affectively pumped fresh cash into eurozone economies which is good for growth but critics complain that's actually not allowed