European Central Bank (ECB)
Schroder defeat could end Bofinger's ECB hopes
A defeat by Chancellor Gerhard Schroder in Germany's election in September could spell the end for Peter Bofinger's chances of succeeding Otmar Issing as the German representative on the European Central Bank's six-man executive board.
ECB's Gonzalez-Paramo on inflation differentials
In the speech 'Inflation differentials in the euro area' given on 23 May Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo of the ECB said lasting inflation differentials that are the product of misaligned national policies or structural inefficiencies may be damaging for the…
Trichet sees many euro members breaking pact rules
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said Monday 23 May many euro zone governments look set to return deficits above the stability and growth pact's limit of 3 pct of GDP this year.
Issing: Govts must deal with growth differentials
European Central Bank chief economist Otmar Issing said in a speech Friday 20 May euro zone growth differentials must be dealt with by national economic policies rather than by the ECB's interest rate policy.
The pact’s last stand
Political tensions have been contained by the deal on deficits, but at what cost to Europe’s fiscal regime and its single currency? William Clarke reports from Brussels.
Rato says US deficit weighing on world economy
The International Monetary Fund's forecast for global economic growth this year remains unchanged at 4.3 per cent although the US current account deficit is still weighing on the world economy, IMF chief Rodrigo Rato said on Thursday.
ECB's Papademos on monetary stability, integration
In the speech 'Monetary stability and financial integration in Europe' given on 9 May Lucas Papademos of the ECB said the ECB is committed to, and will continue to support, the process of structural reform in financial markets, as well as in labour and…
Dutch Paper on ECB support for the euro
The De Nederlandsche Bank Working Paper "Were verbal efforts to support the euro effective? A high-frequency analysis of ECB statements" published in April 2005 studies the effects of verbal interventions by European central bankers on high-frequency…
ECB's Gonzalez-Paramo promotes lower taxes
In a speech on Friday 13 May European Central Bank board member Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo said lower income taxes can reduce the need for interest rate rises in the long run.
ECB Monthly Bulletin, May 2005
The European Central Bank published its May 2005 Monthly Bulletin on Thursday 12 May. The regular survey of professional economic forecasters conducted by the ECB showed the experts have downgraded their growth forecasts for the euro zone economy for…
Tumpel-Gugerell: Interchange in a changing market
In the speech 'Interchange in a changing market: Observations from the euro area perspective' given on 6 May Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell of the ECB said we are aware of the problems and issues at stake in relation to interchange fees. For the moment, we see…
ECB's Issing on EU and euro zone enlargement
In a speech on 'The enlargement of the EU and the euro zone' given on 27 April Otmar Issing of the ECB said the main question for the new Member States is how to achieve fast catching up to the old Member States.
Trichet on the euro: One currency, one market
In a speechon 'The euro: one currency, one financial market' given on 19 April, Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said that inflation expectations for the dozen countries that use the euro are in line with the ECB's goal of keeping consumer price increases…
European Central Bank - Annual Report 2004
The ECB published its Annual Report for the year ended 2004 on Tuesday. Lucas Papademos said there should not be any negative economic consequences from the loosening of the stability and growth pact's fiscal policy rules if the reformed pact is…
ECB's Tumpel-Gugerell on payment systems
In a speech on 'The need for regulatory involvement in the evolution of payment systems' given on 25 April Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell of the ECB said euro zone banks are moving too slowly on the integration of payment systems, which would allow consumers…
Bini Smaghi wins MEPs' backing for ECB post
The Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee has approved the nomination of Lorenzo Bini Smaghi to the Executive Board of the European Central Bank. At the end of a confirmation hearing on 19 April, committee members voted by 16 in favour to 2 against…
ECB's Tumpel-Gugerell on EU-China relations
In the speech 'The next dimension for EU-China relations' given on 19 April, Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell of the ECB said Chinese action on foreign exchange is "crucial for the adjustment of global imbalance".
ECB's Papademos on the euro and economic growth
In a speech on 'The euro and economic growth' given on 15 April, Lucas Papademos of the ECB said the structural impediments to the euro area's growth must be addressed by implementing appropriate structural measures. There are no alternative solutions…
ECB Monthly Bulletin, April 2005
The European Central Bank published its April 2005 Monthly Bulletin on Thursday 14 April, saying there are "no clear signs" that economic growth in the twelve nation euro zone is set to accelerate as record oil prices weigh on business conditions.
Fin mins concerned uneven growth may hinder ECB
Eurozone finance ministers are concerned that different growth rates among the 12 nations sharing the single currency could hamper European Central Bank policy making, a German government official told Reuters on Wednesday.
Trichet on integration in the enlarged Europe
In a speech on 'The challenges of economic and financial integration in the enlarged Europe' given on 9 April, Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said new European Union members should curb budget deficits not only to fulfil criteria needed to join the euro…
ECB's Trichet on the success of the euro
In a speech given on 18 March Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB stressed that the maintenance of price stability and financial integration are key successes of the Economic and Monetary Union as well as fundamentals conditions to enhance sustainable…
ECB's Tumpel-Gugerell on policies in the new EU
In a speech on 'Monetary and financial policies in the new integrated Union' given on 9 March, Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell of the ECB pointed out that the success of fiscal adjustment and reform crucially hinges on political and public support.
Trichet sees continued relatively moderate growth
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet told the European Parliament on Monday 14 March that he expects continued moderate eurozone growth this year and next.