Belgium
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.
EU disciplines Germany over deficit, warns France
BELGIUM - The European Commission publicly censured Germany and France over their budgets on Wednesday, saying Berlin would exceed EU deficit limits this year and Paris risked following suit next year.
ECB rate cut not ruled out: Belgian board
BELGIUM - Belgian national bank chief Guy Quaden, a member of the European Central Bank board, declined Tuesday to rule out an ECB interest rate cut.
Brussels tells new members not to rush into euro
BELGIUM - Brussels may be holding open the door to 10 new European Union members in 2004 but there were warnings yesterday that the candidate countries should not rush to join the euro.
Non-US banks may secure Sarbanes-Oxley concession
BELGIUM - Non-US banks may win a significant concession on tough new US legislation on corporate governance and accounting.
France faces formal Brussels rebuke
BELGIUM - France was yesterday left isolated and facing a European Union reprimand after blowing a hole in the credibility of the rules that underpin the euro.
Business Survey Barometer August 2002
REPORT - The National Bank of Belgium's Business Survey Barometer for August 2002 stabilised in August after declining in the previous two months.
ECB's Quaden says Europe's economy struggling
BELGIUM - European Central Bank council member Guy Quaden said the economy is struggling to expand and higher oil prices may curb spending by companies and consumers.
EU Commission trims euro-zone growth prospects
BELGIUM - The EU Commission cut on Friday - for the second time in a month - its forecast for third quarter euro-zone growth, aiming now for 0.3-0.6 percent because of signs of weakness from Germany, France and Italy.
Financial Stability Review, 2002, from the NBB
ANNUAL REVIEW - Financial Stability Review, 2002 Issue 1, from the National Bank of Belgium. The review says that the diversity of topics covered in this first FSR illustrates that financial stability issues have to be studied from a wide variety of…
Euro-zone inflation climbs to 1.9 per cent in July
BELGIUM - Inflation in the 12-nation euro zone edged up to 1.9 per cent in July compared with the same month in 2001, the statistics body Eurostat reported on Wednesday, citing provisional figures.
Financial regulation change brought closer for EU
BELGIUM - European Union finance ministers will tomorrow discuss a radical shake-up of banking and insurance regulation in an effort to bolster Europe's defences against future financial crises.