Europe
Trichet says ECB vigilant on oil
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said the ECB has to be vigilant over the recent rise in oil prices, but is confident that inflation in the euro zone will be below 2 pct in 2005.
President proposed for euro finance ministers
French finance minister Nicolas Sarkozy proposed this week that the finance ministers of the 12 eurozone countries should have a permanent president for two and a half years.
Trichet on financial stability & structural change
In a speech to the Second Conference of the Monetary Stability Foundation given on 3 June, Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said faced with new developments in the financial markets, namely, their increasingly large role and their integration across…
ECB decision on the rules applying to OLAF
Today, 3 June, the Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) adopted a Decision (ECB/2004/11) on the terms and conditions for European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) investigations of the European Central Bank.
ECB press conference, with Q & A session
The European Central Bank held eurozone interest rates unchanged for a 12th month on Thursday 3 June. At the post-meeting press conference Jean-Claude Trichet said the economic recovery has strengthened over recent months, but noted we have also…
EU Finance ministers urge OPEC action on oil price
French Finance Minister Nicolas Sarkozy says that eurozone finance ministers have agreed to coordinate any response to surging oil prices and want talks with oil producers to lead to an increase in output.
Report says Basel II will cost banks 20-30bn euros
Applying capital requirements under a new accord drafted by the Basel committee should cost European banks 20-30 billion euros between 2002 and 2006, a study prepared for the European Commission has estimated.
Trichet on Eurozone reforms and growth
In a speech on 'Structural reforms and growth, as highlighted by the Irish case' given on 31 May, Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said governments of the twelve euro countries could help boost consumer confidence by increasing efforts to cut their budget…
Issing on the euro and the Lisbon agenda
In a speech on 'The euro and the Lisbon agenda' given on 28 May, Otmar Issing of the ECB said structural reforms in eurozone countries would allow the ECB to avoid sharp interest rate changes in reaction to external shocks.
Solans set to leave ECB
ECB Executive Board Member Eugenio Domingo Solans, who in 2002 oversaw the debut of the euro notes and coins, will step down from his post on Monday, 31 May. He will be replaced by Spaniard Jose Manuel Gonzalez Paramo.
ECB's Issing: Euro zone recovery set to continue
European Central Bank's chief economist Otmar Issing said on Thursday 27 May that economic recovery in the 12-country euro zone is set to continue and gather momentum this year.
Exchanging views on central banking issues
At the opening on Tuesday 25 May of the Joint Eurosystem, Bank of Russia Seminar in Helsinki the participants were welcomed by Matti Louekoski, Acting Governor of the Bank of Finland. He stressed that the Russian Federation has been enjoying rapid…
A toolkit for financial stability
Monetary union does not insulate against financial crisis, says Max Watson. Accession countries must continue to watch - and - report - imbalances in the economy.
Third ECB central banking conference dates
The European Central Bank announced on Monday 24 May that it will hold its 3rd Central Banking Conference on 21st and 22nd October 2004 in Frankfurt, on "The New EU member states: convergence and stability".
Trichet says ECB must not overreact on data
ECB chief Jean-Claude Trichet said on Monday 24 May that the central bank generally had to show 'sang-froid' and moderation in its reaction to economic developments. In a speech delivered in French he said the stability and growth pact does not need to…
Trichet on current challenges for the ECB
In a speech on 'Current challenges for the ECB: sustainable non-inflationary growth and financial stability' given on 13 May, Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said one of the major challenges that the ECB faces is the EU enlargement and the future entry of…
Euro area inflation rises above target
The euro zone's annual inflation rate rose to 2 percent in April, edging above the European Central Bank's target for the first time this year, the European Union said on Tuesday 18 May.
Basel II rules 'take account of small businesses'
European Central Bank governing council member Guy Quaden on Monday 17 May played down fears that small and medium-sized firms would suffer from the new rules on bank capital known as Basel II.
Padoa-Schioppa on European financial integration
In the panel session "Drivers of European Financial Integration - Markets or Policy?" at the ECB-CFS research network on 11 May Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa said the central bank of the euro has provided a fundamental contribution to the integration of…
ECB's Tumpel-Gugerell on five years of the euro
In a speech on 'Five Years of the Euro: Successes and New Challenges' given on 14 May, Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell of the ECB said sharp swings in the foreign exchange value of the euro are having an impact on the eurozone economy.
Trichet on the international role of the euro
In a speech on 'The international role of the euro' given on 14 May, Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said the position on currency developments spelled out in the last two G-7 communiques in February and April remains valid.
EU adds price stability goal to constitution
European Union negotiators have agreed to enshrine the goal of price stability in the bloc's first constitution, meeting a demand of European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet.
Trichet on the current state of EU banking sector
In a speech on 'The current state of the EU banking sector' given on 5 May, Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB said a number of challenges remain both for banks and authorities, in particular, in the structural domain. Several EU countries are still faced…
ECB holds rates, sees improving eurozone economy
European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said on Thursday 6 may that after a "mixed" set of economic indicators for the 12-country eurozone so far this year, the most recent data appeared to be more "encouraging".