19. Cash and cash equivalents
(in millions of euros) | December 31, 2017 | December 31, 2016 |
Cash and bank balances | 565 | 709 |
The cash and bank balances are at the free disposal of the company, with the exception pf €101 million (€62 million as at 31 December 2016). The Group's interest rate risk and a sensitivity analysis for financial assets and liabilities are given in note 26.
Accounting policies
Cash and cash equivalents are stated at fair value, which is normally the same as the nominal value.