Europe
Interview with ECB's Lucas Papademos
In an interview published by Il Sole 24 Ore this week, vice President of the European Central Bank Lucas Papademos said that since last April the ECB has preferred to cease using the word "appropriate" so as to dispel the impression that had prevailed in…
ECB Monthly Bulletin, August 2004
The European Central Bank published its August 2004 Monthly Bulletin on 12 August. In the Bulletin the ECB said rising oil prices may hurt the economy in the 12 eurozone nations and keep inflation above the bank's limit into early next year.
Eurozone recovery at risk, says IMF
The eurozone's recovery remains fragile and is vulnerable to weak consumer demand and the risk of a further rise in the already strong euro, the International Monetary Fund warned the single currency's member states on Tuesday.
Dallas Fed's McTeer on transparency
In a speech given on 13 July Bob McTeer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas said that Europe seems to be doing better economically, but what it greatly needs are economic reforms - especially labour market reforms-to give them good job growth.
OECD report says ECB should hold rates steady
The European Central Bank (ECB) will probably keep interest rates in the dozen euro nations at their six-decade low for the rest of the year to help an economic recovery still threatened by "large risks," the Organization for Economic Co-operation and…
Future rate level not 'pre-decided' :ECB's Quaden
The European Central Bank probably won't raise interest rates soon as it forecasts that inflation will ease next year, the Financial Times reported, citing ECB governing council member Guy Quaden in an interview.
OECD sees growth threat from eurozone deficits
The OECD warned on Tuesday 27 July in its latest survey of the eurozone that high deficits, such as those faced by France and Germany, are the eurozone's biggest economic problem.
New security features for euro banknotes planned
A new series of euro banknotes with improved security features to combat forgery will be issued by the end of the decade, the Bundesbank board member responsible for banknotes, Franz-Christoph Zeitler, told Focus magazine.
ECB information on the counterfeiting of the euro
In the first half of 2004, a total of 307,223 counterfeit euro banknotes were withdrawn from circulation, the European Central Bank (ECB) said on 22 July.
ECB's Weber: No inflation pressure in medium-term
The European Central Bank "does not currently see inflationary pressures in the medium term" in the 12-country eurozone, Bundesbank President Axel Weber said in a newspaper interview published on Thursday 22 July.
ECB's Issing sees stronger eurozone growth
European Central Bank chief economist Otmar Issing said he expects next year's growth in the euro area will gain further strength and the inflation rate would be below 2pc.
ECB Memoranda of Understanding
The ECB issued a news release on Wednesday 21 July announcing the adherence of the central banks and banking supervisors of the New Member States to the Memoranda of Understanding on High Level Principles of Co-operation in Crisis Management Situations…
EU Commission says EMU has brought stability
The European Commission has said in a report that the first five years of economic and monetary union have resulted in economic stability, but not sustained growth.
Eurozone inflation eases to 2.4% in June
Eurozone inflation fell slightly in June to 2.4 percent on a 12-month basis from 2.5 percent in May, final data from the EU's statistical office Eurostat showed on Friday 16 July.
Issing says ECB must check inflation expectations
European Central Bank Chief Economist Otmar Issing said it's important for the bank to prevent expectations of inflation from rising excessively, the Nihon Keizai newspaper said, citing an interview with Issing.
ECB on Court of Justice decision on Pact
The European Central Bank (ECB) said in a statement released Tuesday 13 July that it takes note of the judgement by the Court of Justice on the Council's actions of 25 November 2003.
European Parliament on Pact decision
Christa Randzio-Plath, outgoing chair of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament, expressed her views on the Stability and Growth Pact issue in this press release, 13 July.
No need for ECB to hike rates: Buba's Weber
Bundesbank president and European Central Bank governing council member Axel Weber said in an interview published at the weekend that available information indicates the ECB will not need to change its interest rates in the foreseeable future.
Decision on 'Mr Euro' delayed to September
Finance ministers from the 12-country eurozone have deferred until September a decision on creating a "Mr Euro" as the political face of the single currency.
Trichet: The current state of the European economy
In a speech on 'The current state of the European economy and the ECB's monetary policy concept' given on 9 July, Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said it has only been possible to achieve low levels of market interest rates in the eurozone because of the…
ECB Monthly Bulletin, July 2004
The European Central Bank published its July 2004 Monthly Bulletin on 8 July. The high unemployment rate in the eurozone is likely to limit pressure for wage increases and thus prevent the recent rise in oil prices spilling over to other consumer prices…
Sarkozy calls for more transparency at ECB
French finance minister Nicolas Sarkozy has called on the European Central Bank (ECB) to publish records of its debates and votes when setting interest rates, in the interests of transparency.
ECB's Issing on sustained economic growth
In a speech on 'Sustained economic growth and central banking' given on 6 July, Otmar Issing of the ECB said central banking activities can impact on longer run growth through a number of potential channels. These include the role of central banks in…
ECB's new HQ begins to take shape
The construction of the new European Central Bank headquarters in Frankfurt moved one step closer this week with demolition work on the former site of the Grossmarkthalle (wholesale market) due to begin on Thursday 1 July.