Belgium
High oil price threaten growth: Belgium's Quaden
Belgian National Bank governor Guy Quaden said in an interview that high oil prices pose a risk to inflation and growth, and the European Central Bank must prevent high fuel costs spilling over into general price rises and causing an "inflation spiral".
Belgium may scrap euro cent coins
Belgium is to stop producing one- and two euro cent coins, following in the footsteps of eurozone partners Finland and the Netherlands, AFP reported Finance Minister Didier Reynders as saying.
Belgium may scrap small euro coins
Reports on Thursday said the Belgian government had agreed in principle with banks, business and consumer groups to scrap one and two euro coins.
Belgian national bank sees GDP growth at 2.3 pct
Presenting the June forecasts, Belgian national bank governor Guy Quaden warned that a further rise in oil prices could hamper economic recovery in Europe.
National Bank of Belgium - Annual Report 2003
The National Bank of Belgium has published its Annual Report for the year ended 2003. Guy Quaden said in the Foreword to the report the relatively disappointing performance by many European countries in terms of growth and rising unemployment highlight…
Belgium's Quaden on an evolving financial system
In a speech on 'Efficiency and stability in an evolving financial system' given on 17 May, Guy Quaden of the National Bank of Belgium said it is important that the closer interaction between the academic and regulator's worlds which is one of the new…
Belgium's Praet calls for transparent selection
Belgian National Bank official Peter Praet, Belgium's unsuccessful candidate for the ECB said on Thursday 25 March that the process for selecting members of the ECB's executive board must be made more transparent.
Quaden says ECB still has ammunition
Belgian ECB governing council member Guy Quaden was quoted on Wednesday 24 March as saying that the ECB's official interest rate of two per cent is "extremely low" but the Bank has some room for manoeuvre if necessary.
Belgium calls for fair play over ECB job
Belgian finance minister Didier Reynders has said competence should be the "only criteria" for picking a replacement for Spain's Eugene Domingo Solans, who leaves the ECB's executive board at the end of May.
Reynders says ECB may have room for manoeuvre
Belgian Finance Minister Didier Reynders has said that it is up to the European Central Bank to stimulate Europe's sluggish economic recovery, because widening budget deficits prevent governments from boosting spending.
BNB's Quaden: Further euro rise 'not desirable'
Belgian National Bank governor Guy Quaden said at the release of the central bank's annual report that any further rise of the euro is "not desirable".
Report says Belgium set to propose ECB candidate
According to a report in a Belgian local daily on Thursday 5 February, Peter Praet, a central bank director, is set to be put forward as a replacement to a retiring ECB board member.
Belgian shareholders to pursue central bank claim
Representatives of minority shareholders in Belgium's central bank said Wednesday they plan to take the case to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. They plan to pursue their claim to a share in the capital gains earned from the bank's assets,…
Belgium cb's shares fall ahead of court rule
The National Bank of Belgium's shares fell on Friday 24 October on fears that the country's Supreme Court would rule against the central bank in a case to decide ownership of the bank's assets, according to Reuters. An action group representing…
Fake euro coins hit Belgium
The National Bank of Belgium has found its first fake euro coins, according to Expatica News. The coins were discovered when a batch was returned to the central bank as stock. The fake one and two euros were described by the Treasury as of very high…
Quaden on the Financial Stability Committee
In a speech on the 'Installation of the Financial Stability Committee' given on 30 July Guy Quaden of the National Bank of Belgium said that this new Committee and the far more historic institutions from which it emanates are firmly resolved that they…
New vice-governor in Belgium
Seasoned politician Luc Coene has been appointed as the new vice-governor of the National Bank of Belgium. He was previously the prime minister Guy Verhofstadt's right hand man, acting among other things as his chief of staff.
Belgian central bank shares drop on court ruling
A commercial court in Belgium has dismissed as unfounded a law suit calling for an extraordinary meeting of shareholders of the Belgian central bank, according to Reuters. The meeting was to ask for the dissolution of the Bank because a transfer of the…
National Bank of Belgium - Annual Report 2002
The National Bank of Belgium has published its Annual Report for the year ended 2002.
Belgian central bank defends shareholder treatment
Guy Quaden, Belgium's central bank governor, has denied accusations made by shareholders at an annual meeting that the bank favours its main shareholder, the Belgian government.
Extra six months proposed for Duisenberg at ECB
A report by Belga News quoting official sources says Greece, as the current holders of the EU presidency, will propose that ECB president Wim Duisenberg stays on for another six months in office.
Belgium seeks ECB post for bank critic De Grauwe
Belgium is stepping up its campaign to secure a seat on the board of the European Central Bank by nominating Paul De Grauwe, an academic who has criticized the bank for failing to promote growth. De Grauwe recently ran for the job of vice-president of…
Belgium sees electronic banking on the rise
Some 12.5 billion Belgian francs have still not been exchanged for euros, nearly a year after the single currency was introduced, according to the latest report from the country's central bank Monday.
ECB's Duisenberg wins award after euro launch
An awards ceremony Tuesday gave ECB president Wim Duisenberg the title of "Business Leader of the Year" after the successful launch of the euro. There was also a somewhat tongue in cheek prize for Romano Prodi.