Europe
EU proposes easing of stability pact
At its regular meeting on Thursday 24 June, the European Commission recommended that a country's economic situation should be taken into account when applying the stability and growth pact, Deutsche Welle reported.
ECB's Padoa-Schioppa on challenges post-FSAP
In a speech on 'Challenges of financial integration in the post-FSAP period' given on 23 June, Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa of the ECB said efforts in the post-FSAP period should be devoted to best implementing the new framework. If exploited ambitiously, the…
Rates not to blame for slow growth: Padoa-Schioppa
The European Central Bank's reluctance to cut interest rates below 2 per cent isn't to blame for slow growth in the 12 nations that share the euro, said Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa, an ECB board member, in an interview with newspaper La Stampa.
ECB's Issing on the primacy of price stability
In a speech 'On the primacy of price stability' given on 10 June. Otmar Issing of the ECB said the primacy of price stability does not imply that this objective can be left to the central banks alone. Monetary policy needs to be complemented by a sound…
ECB Monthly Bulletin, June 2004
The European Central Bank published its June 2004 Monthly Bulletin on 10 June. The report said the recovery in euro area economic growth is expected to continue over the coming quarters, leading to a broader and stronger upswing in the course of next…
Prodi defends independence of ECB
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his compatriot Romano Prodi, president of the European Commission, have locked swords over the strength of the euro and European Central Bank interest rate policy during the G8 summit of industrialized nations…
Trichet says ECB vigilant on oil
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said the ECB has to be vigilant over the recent rise in oil prices, but is confident that inflation in the euro zone will be below 2 pct in 2005.
President proposed for euro finance ministers
French finance minister Nicolas Sarkozy proposed this week that the finance ministers of the 12 eurozone countries should have a permanent president for two and a half years.
Trichet on financial stability & structural change
In a speech to the Second Conference of the Monetary Stability Foundation given on 3 June, Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said faced with new developments in the financial markets, namely, their increasingly large role and their integration across…
ECB decision on the rules applying to OLAF
Today, 3 June, the Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) adopted a Decision (ECB/2004/11) on the terms and conditions for European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) investigations of the European Central Bank.
ECB press conference, with Q & A session
The European Central Bank held eurozone interest rates unchanged for a 12th month on Thursday 3 June. At the post-meeting press conference Jean-Claude Trichet said the economic recovery has strengthened over recent months, but noted we have also…
EU Finance ministers urge OPEC action on oil price
French Finance Minister Nicolas Sarkozy says that eurozone finance ministers have agreed to coordinate any response to surging oil prices and want talks with oil producers to lead to an increase in output.
Report says Basel II will cost banks 20-30bn euros
Applying capital requirements under a new accord drafted by the Basel committee should cost European banks 20-30 billion euros between 2002 and 2006, a study prepared for the European Commission has estimated.
Trichet on Eurozone reforms and growth
In a speech on 'Structural reforms and growth, as highlighted by the Irish case' given on 31 May, Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said governments of the twelve euro countries could help boost consumer confidence by increasing efforts to cut their budget…
Issing on the euro and the Lisbon agenda
In a speech on 'The euro and the Lisbon agenda' given on 28 May, Otmar Issing of the ECB said structural reforms in eurozone countries would allow the ECB to avoid sharp interest rate changes in reaction to external shocks.
Solans set to leave ECB
ECB Executive Board Member Eugenio Domingo Solans, who in 2002 oversaw the debut of the euro notes and coins, will step down from his post on Monday, 31 May. He will be replaced by Spaniard Jose Manuel Gonzalez Paramo.
ECB's Issing: Euro zone recovery set to continue
European Central Bank's chief economist Otmar Issing said on Thursday 27 May that economic recovery in the 12-country euro zone is set to continue and gather momentum this year.
Exchanging views on central banking issues
At the opening on Tuesday 25 May of the Joint Eurosystem, Bank of Russia Seminar in Helsinki the participants were welcomed by Matti Louekoski, Acting Governor of the Bank of Finland. He stressed that the Russian Federation has been enjoying rapid…
A toolkit for financial stability
Monetary union does not insulate against financial crisis, says Max Watson. Accession countries must continue to watch - and - report - imbalances in the economy.
Third ECB central banking conference dates
The European Central Bank announced on Monday 24 May that it will hold its 3rd Central Banking Conference on 21st and 22nd October 2004 in Frankfurt, on "The New EU member states: convergence and stability".
Trichet says ECB must not overreact on data
ECB chief Jean-Claude Trichet said on Monday 24 May that the central bank generally had to show 'sang-froid' and moderation in its reaction to economic developments. In a speech delivered in French he said the stability and growth pact does not need to…
Trichet on current challenges for the ECB
In a speech on 'Current challenges for the ECB: sustainable non-inflationary growth and financial stability' given on 13 May, Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said one of the major challenges that the ECB faces is the EU enlargement and the future entry of…
Euro area inflation rises above target
The euro zone's annual inflation rate rose to 2 percent in April, edging above the European Central Bank's target for the first time this year, the European Union said on Tuesday 18 May.
Basel II rules 'take account of small businesses'
European Central Bank governing council member Guy Quaden on Monday 17 May played down fears that small and medium-sized firms would suffer from the new rules on bank capital known as Basel II.