Europe
Euro's reserve growing, ECB's Issing says
The euro's growing role as a global reserve currency is "unavoidable", the European Central Bank's chief economist Otmar Issing said Monday 26 April.
Deficits remain obstacle for new EU members
The greatest hurdle preventing the EU accession countries from joining the euro quickly is the state of their public finances, European Central Bank executive board member Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa said in a newspaper interview.
Trichet on European Priorities: an ECB perspective
In a speech on 'European Priorities: an ECB perspective' given on 23 April, Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said that the ECB, its Governing Council, and the full body of the Eurosystem are doing all what they can for Europe to cope with its present…
Rates in line with economy: ECB's Tumpel-Gugerell
Euro zone interest rates are in line with economic conditions, European Central Bank Executive Board member Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell said in an interview released on Sunday 25 April.
France, Germany pressured ECB over rates-report
The European Central Bank faced more pressure for lower interest rates from the euro zone's biggest countries, France and Germany, at Saturday's meeting (April 24) of the world's top economic powers, an EU source said.
EU Parliament approves Gonzalez-Paramo to ECB
The European Parliament on Monday 19 April endorsed Spain's Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo to succeed ECB board member Eugenio Domingo Solans next month.
Solans on statistics & their use by central banks
In a speech on 'Statistics and their use by central banks' given on 23 April, Eugenio Domingo Solans of the ECB said the business area in charge of statistics in the central bank should have an appropriate organisational level in order to fulfil the…
Interview with ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet
In an interview published on Friday 23 April, Jean-Claude Trichet said the European Central Bank is proud to be a central bank with one of the highest levels of predictability. He also said he was struck by the pessimism shown by many on the potential…
Trichet defends ECB stance on rates
ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet said in an interview that the bank is "neutral" on interest rates but insisted any changes in the economic outlook will be considered. He also said the sharp rise in oil prices poses a risk to the global economy unless…
ECB's Trichet on structural reforms
In a lecture on the occasion of the receipt of the EFR-Business Week Award 2004 given on 20 April, Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said that European governments need to speed up economic reforms in order to improve the euro zone growth rate.
Green light for new ECB Board member
The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs has voted to recommend that Parliament endorse the appointment of Jose Manuel GONZLEZ PRAMO as a member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank.
ECB publish latest additions to Blue Books
The European Central Bank (ECB) on Friday 16 April published the latest additions to two of its Blue Books, ahead of the 1 May EU enlargement.
ECB's Papademos on Stability and Growth Pact
In a speech on 'Some reflections on the Stability and Growth Pact' given on 5 April, Lucas Papademos of the ECB said recent experience has taught us that there is room for improvement in the implementation of the rules. So it would help to strengthen…
ECB says stance in line with price stability aims
The European Central Bank published its April 2004 Monthly Bulletin on 7 April. The bank said its monetary policy stance remains in line with its target of maintaining price stability. "The low level of interest rates provides ongoing support to the…
Four more countries face stability pact scrutiny
The European Commission has put Britain and the Netherlands under formal surveillance for letting their budget deficits breach an EU target. It also issued a warning to Italy and said it expected Greece to breach the limit.
Independent evaluation of ECB research activities
The ECB released a report on Wednesday 7 April of an evaluation of the economic research activities at the ECB. The report provides a positive assessment of the research conducted at the ECB on several criteria, including scientific quality and relevance…
ECB accepts planned accounting rules
A report said that the European Central Bank is no longer worried over the introduction of planned accounting rules to help improve transparency in financial reports.
ECB appointee against short-term rate changes
European Central Bank appointee Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo has said he opposes "short-term" interest rate moves to stimulate growth.
Hearing set for ECB Board candidate
A hearing for the nominee for a position at the Executive Board of the ECB will take place on Tuesday 6 April.
Fire alarm halts ECB press conference
The ECB's monthly news conference in its Eurotower headquarters on Thursday 1 April was interrupted temporarily by a fire alarm.
ECB opinion of proposed member of Executive Board
At the 1 April meeting of the Governing Council of the ECB it adopted an opinion on a recommendation from the Council of the European Union on the appointment of a new member of its Executive Board.
ECB questions and answers
The European Central Bank held interest rates unchanged at its meeting on 1 April. Jean-Claude Trichet told the afternoon press conference the ECB's key rates remain "in line with the maintenance of price stability" in the eurozone, although recent…
Eurozone inflation remains at four-year low
Inflation in the 12-nation eurozone stood at a four-year low point of 1.6 percent in March, unchanged from February, Eurostat said in a preliminary estimate on Wednesday 31 March.
Eurozone to recover despite mixed signals
Slow consumer spending is casting a shadow over the short-term outlook for the eurozone economy, the European Commission said in a report, agreeing with concerns expressed by the European Central Bank.