Euro
Villepin wants clarification of ECB role
French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin called on Monday 12 December to "clarify the roles" of European Central Bank (ECB), amid talk regarding the recent high levels of the euro.
Papademos on the global importance of the euro
In the speech 'The global importance of the euro' given on 17 November Lucas Papademos of the ECB said the share of the euro in global official foreign exchange reserves increased during the first few years following its introduction, but has remained…
Optimal currency shares in international reserves
The ECB Working Paper "Optimal currency shares in international reserves: the impact of the euro and the prospects for the dollar" says that foreign exchange reserve accumulation has risen dramatically in recent years.
NBP's Balcerowicz against euro referendum
The head of Poland's central bank Leszek Balcerowicz told a seminar on Thursday 7 December that a referendum on Poland joining the eurozone is unnecessary.
Fed's Fisher:The extended importance of the euro
In the speech 'The extended importance of the euro' given on 17 November Richard Fisher of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas said challenges remain for the euro area.
ECB issues warning to euro hopefuls
Some of the new members of the European Union lining up to adopt the euro will likely have to wait until the end of the decade, the European Central Bank said Tuesday 5 December.
Al-Suwaidi on the extended importance of the euro
In the speech 'The extended importance of the euro' given on 17 November Sultan Bin Nasser Al-Suwaidi of the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates said the Euro will definitely grow to dominate trade outside the Euro Area.
Trichet: lessons for EU financial integration
Jean-Claude Trichet, president of the ECB, set out some of the key lessons for greater financial integration among EU economies in a recent speech.
Poland leaves interest rates unchanged
Poland's central bank held interest rates steady after a 29 November meeting, a decision that was in line with economists' expectations.
Gonzalez-Paramo: fixed FX will help Cyprus
Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo, member of the executive board of the ECB, said at a recent conference that Cyprus' experience of adjustment under fixed exchange rate regimes would help the country in its goal of adopting the euro.
Malta cb's governor says the euro is not enough
Joining the euro will help, said Michael Bonello, the governor of Malta's central bank, but this is not enough to secure faster economic growth.
Euro entry unpredictable - Hungarian CB chief
The National Bank of Hungary believes it is no longer possible to say when the country will be ready to join the euro.
Slovenia cb to retain role after joining euro
Mitja Gaspari, governor of the Slovenian central bank, has said that, contrary to prevailing opinion, the institution will remain important after Slovenia's euro switchover on 1 January 2007.
Hungary's Jarai calls for new euro plan
A new convergence program is needed for Hungary to be ready to join the eurozone in 2011, Hungary's central bank Governor Zsigmond Jarai said on Thursday 16 November.
Grzelonska is not a new Balcerowicz
According to this article published Monday 13 November on the FX Street website, Poland's likely next central bank governor has doubts whether the country should adopt the euro.
Interview with National Bank of Slovakia's Sramko
In an interview with Deutsche Presse-Agentur, published Wednesday 8 November, National Bank of Slovakia governor Ivan Sramko said Slovakia needs to step up efforts if it is to meet its tight deadline for joining the euro in January 2009.
Estonia says euro adoption unlikely before 2010
The Bank of Estonia announced Wednesday 8 November that soaring inflation is likely to set back Estonia's target date for adopting the euro to 2010.
Iceland to strengthen foreign reserves
In recent months, the Ministry of Finance and Central Bank of Iceland have been engaged in discussions on strengthening the Central Banks foreign reserves, the central bank said Friday 3 November.
PBOC advisor plays down dollar risk to reserves
A senior People's Bank of China advisor has tried to calm fears over risks posed to the country's huge stock of dollar reserves by a slide in the value of the US currency.
Greenspan notes increasing role of the euro
Former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan said in a speech on Thursday 26 October that both private investors and central banks were moving away from the U.S. dollar in favour of the euro.
Czechs drop plan to adopt euro in 2010
The Czech government has dropped plans to adopt the euro in 2010, noting an outlook for widening budget deficits and rising inflation.
ECB report on EU banking structures
The European Central Bank (ECB) published its annual report on EU banking structures on Thursday 26 October. The report, which has been published each year since 2002, reviews the main structural developments in the EU banking sector in 2005 and until…
France's Breton hopes for ECB rate pause
French finance minister Thierry Breton said in an interview published Wednesday 25 October he hopes for a halt to interest rate hikes by the European Central Bank next year.
Labour productivity developments in the euro area
This European Central Bank Occasional Paper provides a description and a discussion of some important aspects relating to recent productivity developments in the euro area.