European Central Bank (ECB)
Spain's Paramo gets ECB green light
Eurozone finance ministers decided on Thursday March 25 to propose Spain's Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo to the European Central Bank's Executive Board.
ECB's Tumpel-Gugerell on an enlarged EU
In a speech 'Enlarged EU - Financial Strength and Weakness from a Global Perspective' given on 23 March, Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell of the ECB said that while structural reforms, particularly of the labour markets, were needed in Europe, governments should…
Welteke sees eurozone recovery scenario intact
Bundesbank President and ECB Governing Council member Ernst Welteke said on Wednesday 24 March that the most likely scenario for Germany and the euro area is a moderate and gradual recovery. He also commented on remarks made by Guy Quaden earlier.
Padoa-Schioppa on the evolving financial landscape
In a speech on 'The evolving European financial landscape: integration and regulation' given on 22 March, Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa of the ECB provides an overview of the role of public policy in fostering integration and stability in the EU financial…
ECB Monthly Bulletin, March 2004
The European Central Bank published its March 2004 Monthly Bulletin on 11 March. The Bulletin reported that the main scenario of a continued gradual recovery in the course of 2004 and 2005 remains valid.
Trichet on the EU accession process
Speaking at the 'Paris seminar on the EU accession process' on 4 March, Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said that as European central bankers, our destiny is intertwined with the destiny of our continent. As Europe is being rebuilt and reunited, so we are…
Padoa-Schioppa on building on the euro's success
In a speech on 'Building on the euro's success' given on 26 February, Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa of the ECB said the rampant euro proved the eurozone was doing its bit to ease global imbalances and scalded Asia for fixed currency regimes. By operating a peg…
Raffarin says ECB should react to euro rise
Speaking on Thursday 26 February, French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said he shared Gerhard Schroeder's views that the ECB should think about varying eurozone interest rates given the euro's strong rise against the dollar.
Tumpel-Gugerell: Central banks in an enlarged EU
In the speech 'Challenges for central banks in an enlarged European Union and euro area' given on 20 February, Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell of the ECB said a new and changing environment requires new concepts and innovation in the field of central banking.
Papademos on the competition for new ECB premises
In his introductory statement at the Deutsches Architektur Museum given on 20 February, Lucas Papademos of the ECB said the ECB is very satisfied that the results of the international architectural competition have fulfilled its expectations.
ECB's Issing tries to deflate Greenspan's bubble
While Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan is taking his victory lap, other central bankers and private-sector economists are questioning what they see as a case of premature hubris.
Excerpt from interview with ECB's Otmar Issing
In an excerpt from an interview in the latest issue of Central Baking journal Otmar Issing, the ECB's chief economist, discusses potential weaknesses of inflation targetting and explains why money still matters in monetary policy.
Finland versus the ECB (continued)
Despite a climb down by the Finnish finance ministry on a move to seize almost €750m of Suomen Pankki's capital, the ECB is still far from happy with the ministry's final proposal for a new Bank of Finland act. It argues that the proposal still…
Trichet's testimony before the European Parliament
In testimony before the European Parliament given on 16 February Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said recent data have strengthened the ECB's expectation of an economic recovery in the eurozone and made us "more confident" that the recovery began in the…
ECB sees faster eurozone growth
The European Central Bank published its February 2004 Monthly Bulletin on 12 February. In the February Bulletin, the ECB said that in its new regular quarterly 'Survey of Professional Forecasters', the experts had revised their forecasts upwards.
Interview: Otmar Issing
As the board member responsible for economics and research, Otmar Issing has been a principal architect of the ECB's monetary policy. Here he discusses many of the key issues facing the ECB today and explains the rationale for some of its more…
Focus on central banks
This article looks at some key events this week in the world of central banking. Ben Bernanke's comments on inflation ruffled some feathers, the author says, with the suggestion that deflation fears had receded substantially. The ECB's latest press…
Trichet: The euro - five years on
In a speech on 'The euro - five years on' given on 2 February, Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said the Eurozone today already represents four-fifth of the number of EU countries. He added that UK entry is very warmly welcomed by all of us but depends on…
Welteke: Strong euro 'an asset' and outlook good
Ernst Welteke told an audience in Frankfurt that the strong euro is allowing the ECB to keep interest rates low. The Bundesbank chief also said the economic prospects for the eurozone and Germany "are rather good" and urged Britain to join the euro.
ECB's Padoa-Schioppa on exchange rate issues
In a speech on 'Exchange rate issues relating to the acceding countries' given on 2 February, Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa of the ECB said a smooth participation in ERM II will require that the overall policies of participating Member States are consistent and…
Spain has 'very good' candidates to replace Solans
Spain can offer "very good candidates" to replace European Central Bank executive board member Eugenio Domingo Solans when his mandate ends on May 31, said Economy Minister Rodrigo Rato this week.
Trichet on challenges for the European economy
In a speech on 'The challenges for the European economy in 2004' given on 29 January, Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said it was of the utmost importance that the new Member States countries fulfil the convergence criteria not only nominally but also in…