Europe
ECBs Tumpel-Gugerell: euro in cen & eastern Europe
In a speech on 'The euro in central and eastern Europe' given on 27 October, Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell of the European Central Bank said integration into the monetary union represents a key step towards full economic integration within the EU and has the…
How will Trichet speak?
SPECIAL FEATURE - In a little over a week, as president of the European Central Bank, it will be up to Jean-Claude Trichet to explain European Central Bank policy. There are clear signs that he plans to change the way the ECB presents policy. Not only…
ECB's Solans on the international role of the euro
In a speech on 'An analysis of the international role of the euro: its impact on economic relations between Asia and Europe' given on 24 October, Eugenio Domingo Solans of the European Central Bank asked what has been the impact of the euro on economic…
ECB member urges business to cope with strong euro
ECB board member Matti Vanhala, according to a Bloomberg report, appeared to suggest on Thursday 23 October that the bank was not concerned about the euro's increase, saying that companies would have to cope with the currency's appreciation.
Duisenberg optimistic for eurozone economy
Outgoing European Central Bank President Wim Duisenberg said on Thursday 23 October that he was "fairly optimistic" regarding the outlook for eurozone growth, according to AFP Things are going in the right direction, albeit slowly. I think that in Europe…
Duisenberg on Maastricht and the future of Europe
In a speech on 'Maastricht and the future of Europe' given on 22 October, Wim Duisenberg of the ECB said: "As a central banker, I would argue that the draft Constitution for Europe has incorporated the substance of the EMU chapters of the Maastricht…
Issing on Inflation targeting: prospects, problems
In a panel discussion at the conference "Inflation targeting: prospects and problems" on 17 October Otmar Issing of the ECB said that the differences in the practices of central banks oriented to price stability are in fact relatively limited. "I believe…
Solans: Prices productivity and growth - and money
In a speech on 'Prices, productivity and growth... and money' given on 17 October Eugenio Domingo Solans of the ECB asks If a central bank does not pay due attention to monetary developments, the question is then: who, if anybody, shall do it? The only…
Eurozone recovery still fragile - ECB's Issing
The ECB's Chief Economist Otmar Issing said on Thursday 16 October that while the eurozone's recovery was still fragile it should gain strength next year, Reuters reports. He said the rise in the cost of oil did not provide a reason to change the ECB's…
International policymakers' comments on Trichet
Following Jean-Claude Trichet's formal appointment as the President of the European Central Bank, this article published by Reuters provides a selection of comments from international policymakers about Trichet. European Commission President Romano Prodi…
Daunting tasks await suave new ECB head Trichet
Jean-Claude Trichet was appointed President of the European central bank on Thursday but, according to Reuters, faces daunting challenges at the helm of the fledgling central bank including weak global growth, European budget rows, a tumbling dollar and…
Trichet must be decisive on ECB policies
This article in the Financial times says that Jean-Claude Trichet should make tackling the ECB's lack of responsiveness and poor communication his priorities. The test, it says, will be whether Mr Trichet can persuade his colleagues to cut short-term…
G7 message not only about FX - Duisenberg
Speaking on the sidelines of a news conference in Moscow on Monday, ECB President Wim Duisenberg said foreign exchange markets may have misunderstood last month's statement from the G7, Reuters reports. "There was no statement specifically about euro…
Solans on EU enlargement and capital markets
In a speech on 'The enlargement of the EU and the European capital markets' given on 13 October, 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…
ECB to provide assistance to Russian central bank
The ECB is to help train staff from the central bank of Russia, according to a report by AFX. The training will be provided by officials from nine eurozone national central banks and the non-central bank supervisory authorities of the UK, Sweden and…
Protocol on Central Bank Training in Russia
Signing of the protocol in Moscow of a contract for a project in Russia entitled "Central Bank Training" by Dr. Willem F. Duisenberg, President of the European Central Bank (ECB), His Excellency Richard Wright, Head of the Delegation of the European…
Solans on Eurosystem's role in financial markets
In a speech on 'The role of the Eurosystem in financial markets' Eugenio Domingo Solans of the European Central Bank said the job of a central banker is to make sure that the economic party is sustainable in the long term. I should like to toast this…
Central bankers debate Basel II delay in Madrid
The central bankers and bank supervisors charged with creating a new regime for bank capital were due to meet in Madrid on Friday 10 October to decide whether to postpone the implementation of the rules, according to the Financial Times. The issue was to…
ECB shake-up in response to staff discontent
The European Central Bank is to reshuffle its management in response to claims that the eurozone central bank is becoming too bureaucratic, the Financial Times reports. Feelings inside the bank's Eurotower headquarters in Frankfurt have been running high…
ECB says euro rise not a threat to growth
ECB governing council member Matti Vanhala said on Thursday 9 October that the euro's strength was not "a significant hindrance" to eurozone growth and the dollar's weakness would help to "fix global imbalances", according to the Financial Times…
ECB Monthly Bulletin, October 2003
The European Central Bank published its October 2003 Monthly Bulletin on 9 October. The report said for the near future, risks to the main scenario of a gradual recovery appear to be broadly balanced. However, some risks to the sustainability of economic…
ECB hits out at France and Germany
The European Central Bank called for "complete compliance" with the EU's stability and growth pact in its monthly report released on Thursday 9 October, according to Expatica. The ECB said the pact was vital to success of the single European currency,…
ECB launches web page for forecasters' survey
The European Central Bank launched a web page dedicated to the results of the ECB's Survey of Professional Forecasters (SPF) on 9 October. Since 1999 the ECB has conducted this quarterly survey among forecast experts from both financial and non-financial…
ECB adopts new regulations on minimum reserves
The Governing Council of the European Central Bank has adopted new regulations on money and banking statistics and the application of minimum reserves, 7 October.