European Central Bank (ECB)
Ireland may seek seat at ECB top table
Ireland is likely to pitch for a seat on the executive board of the European Central Bank (ECB) when a vacancy arises at the end of May.
Dutch legislator calls for Duisenberg's sacking
European Central Bank President Wim Duisenberg should be fired because he supports his wife Gretta's anti-Israel positions and embrace of Yasser Arafat, a leading Dutch parliamentarian visiting Jerusalem has said.
ECB council member sees no need for rate move
European Central Bank Governing Council member Ernst Welteke has indicated that he's happy with the present level of euro-zone interest rates.
Speech by Professor Otmar Issing of the ECB
SPEECH - Topic of the Year, Mitglied des Direktoriums der Europaischen Zentralbank. Closing address at the "Topic of the Year" organised by the Group of 20 + 1 in Frankfurt, by Professor Otmar Issing, Frankfurt am Main, 13 January 2003. Text only…
Gretta Duisenberg apologises for 'Nazi' remarks
Gretta Duisenberg has apologised for saying last week that the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories was worse than the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands - with the exception of the Holocaust.
Issing: CPI risks balanced, downside growth risks
The European Central Bank still believes euro-zone economic growth will gradually recover this year, while inflation will slowly fall back below 2%, ECB Chief Economist Otmar Issing said in a speech on Monday.
European Central Bank Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Monetary policy decisions, 9 January.
Eurozone interest rates held steady at 2.75%
The European Central Bank on Thursday left interest rates in the eurozone unchanged following a half-point cut in December, despite a series of data which have suggested stuttering growth in the 12-nation bloc.
ECB chief welcomes strengthening euro
European Central Bank (ECB) president Wim Duisenberg on Thursday welcomed the recent rise in the value of the euro, and said he did not see it endangering the eurozone's competitiveness.
ECB must act now
ARTICLE - The article says the ECB must continue to ease interest rates soon to further boost the flagging eurozone economy as the possibility of deflation in Germany is a greater danger than inflation.
Garganas calls for ECB to change its rules
The eurozone's policy framework suffered a further blow when a leading central banker called for a key change in the way interest rates are set. The criticism comes after the ECB was forced to defend the stability and growth pact. However this time the…
The ECB and M3
LETTER - Letter published in the UK edition of the Financial Times on 6 January. The letter "Stubborn ECB does not deserve to be so badly misunderstood" follows an article regarding the ECB's supposed targeting of M3 levels.
Bye bye, Buba
ARTICLE - This article says the ECB should scrap money supply targeting, its "first pillar" and reduce it to the role of an indicator. It also promotes a looser inflation target, with a change to a symmetrical rate perhaps as high as 3 per cent with 1…
ECB's Liebscher: Rates appropriate, econ improving
Austrian National Bank Governor and European Central Bank governing council member Klaus Liebscher said interest rates are appropriate for the medium term, although they could still be lowered if need be. In an interview he also defended the ECB's two…
Trichet trial will not face delay - starts January
A French prosecutor has chosen not to seek new inquiries into the Credit Lyonnais case, averting the risk of a delayed trial for Jean-Claude Trichet that could have spoiled plans to make him European Central Bank chief next July, a lawyer said on…
Solans on EMU macroeconomic stability and growth
SPEECH - In the speech 'Macroeconomic stability and growth in the European Monetary Union' Eugenio Domingo Solans of the ECB defended the ECB's 'two pillars' saying that having a flexible and all-encompassing monetary policy strategy like the Eurosystem,…
ECB overhaul raises hopes of softer price target
The ECB has often been criticised as slow to react with interest rate moves. But with the constraint of a narrow inflation target its hands have been tied, restricting its ability to provide the euro zone economies with the stimulus they need. But now we…
Bundesbank chief sees chance of further rates
Despite the ECB's recent rate cut, Ernst Welteke, the Bundesbank president, said Monday that the European Central Bank still had some leeway on interest rates, although monetary conditions were already favourable for eurozone growth.
ECB's Papademos backs inflation target
Recent criticism that the European Central Bank's inflation target is too ambitious is unwarranted, ECB Vice President Lucas Papademos said on Monday. His comments appear to go against the proposed re-appraisal of the Bank's inflation target.
Padoa-Schioppa - Where does the euro stand?
SPEECH - In the speech 'International currencies: where does the euro stand' Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa of the ECB said the role of the euro as an international reserve currency has remained subdued, although the international role of the currency has been…
Duisenberg wants to be succeeded by 'clone'
After the recent shake ups in central bank presidencies we now hear that ECB chief Wim Duisenberg has said a clone of himself would be the best choice to succeed him next year. Jean-Claude Trichet of France is the frontrunner.
Solans on accession country financial developments
SPEECH - In the speech 'The relevance of financial sector developments for accession countries' Eugenio Domingo Solans of the ECB said although a new era of financial development in accession countries is now in full swing, the challenges ahead are still…
Wim Duisenberg reflects on the euro's 1st birthday
INTERVIEW - It's now been nearly a year since the Jan. 1 introduction of the euro. In an interview with Deutsche Welle Radio on Friday, the president of the European Central Bank takes stock of the euro's success.
ECB Monthly Bulletin, December 2002
REPORT - The European Central Bank published its December 2002 Monthly Bulletin on 12 December. In the report the ECB says the decision of its Governing Council to reduce interest rates last week reflected their assessment that the evidence has increased…