France
G7 postpones 2-day meeting in Paris
The Group of Seven (G-7) finance ministers and central bank chiefs have postponed a two-day meeting in Paris scheduled to open 31 January, France's finance ministry said Thursday.
Trial of French bank chief suspended
The trial of French central bank governor Jean-Claude Trichet and eight others over alleged false accounting took a four-day break late Wednesday owing to problems caused by a parallel probe into the matter. The case is now expected to resume on Monday.
First victory for Trichet in fraud trial
Bank of France Governor Jean-Claude Trichet had a successful first day on Monday in the trial over his alleged role in one of France's largest ever banking scandals when the presiding judge rejected a request for the trial to be delayed by one year to…
Bank of France's Trichet begins fraud trial
Bank of France governor Jean-Claude Trichet, tipped as the next president of the European Central Bank, was due to stand trial over a decade-old banking scandal on Monday. He denies all charges.
Trichet trial will not face delay - starts January
A French prosecutor has chosen not to seek new inquiries into the Credit Lyonnais case, averting the risk of a delayed trial for Jean-Claude Trichet that could have spoiled plans to make him European Central Bank chief next July, a lawyer said on…
Duisenberg wants to be succeeded by 'clone'
After the recent shake ups in central bank presidencies we now hear that ECB chief Wim Duisenberg has said a clone of himself would be the best choice to succeed him next year. Jean-Claude Trichet of France is the frontrunner.
Trichet on monetary policy in 2003
SPEECH - In the speech 'Monetary policy in 2003' Jean-Claude Trichet of the Bank of France said it seems that the contribution of European countries to the economic prosperity of Europe at large might be sometimes underestimated, but the relative…
ECB worried inflation hasn't slowed with economy
The European Central Bank is concerned that inflation in the euro zone hasn't slowed as much as growth has this year, Chief Economist and Executive Board member Otmar Issing said in a newspaper interview.
New e-cash system in France
Regulators following the development of e-commerce will be interested to learn that the revolutionary electronic cash system for small transactions that has been tried out in several French provinces since 1999 went live in Paris in November.
French drive for securities regulator
FRANCE - The debate over whether Europe should have a single securities regulator continues as Paris based Eurofi, which has close links with the French government, plans to publish proposals based on a poll of financial services companies.
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.
French urge Britain to speed entry to the euro
FRANCE - The French government has made a private plea to senior British MPs to speed British entry to the euro, promising flexibility in negotiations on the terms of British entry.
Bank of England is model for 'new' ECB
FRANCE - The path towards Britain's possible entry into the euro will be made much easier by a radical French plan for the European Central Bank to be reformed in the image of the Bank of England.
Tax harmony is on EU agenda, says Giscard
FRANCE - Valery Giscard d'Estaing expects tax harmonisation to appear in the draft constitution being drawn up by the convention on the future of Europe.
IMF wants euro 'big 3' to tighten fiscal policy
US - The International Monetary Fund has weighed into the debate over the eurozone's stability and growth pact (SGP), arguing that the big three countries - Germany, France and Italy - should heed its message and make a concerted effort to tighten fiscal…
Trichet ordered to appear at trial in new year
FRANCE - The French trial for misleading accounting at the Credit Lyonnais Bank, at which Central Bank governor Mr Jean-Claude Trichet has been ordered to appear, has been scheduled for January 2003 in Paris.
Trichet on european economic integration outlook
SPEECH - In the speech 'European economic & financial integration : what is the outlook?' made on 1 October, Jean Claude Trichet of the Banque de France said the euro and the combined effects of recommendations made in the Lamfallussy Report will make…
Trichet on international financial architecture
SPEECH - In the speech 'The international financial architecture' made on 30 September, Jean-Claude Trichet of the Banque de France discussed the long list of financial crises emerging market economies have gone through in the last two decades. Against…
EU's Prodi calls deficit reduction accord 'stupid'
FRANCE - European Commission President Romano Prodi called Europe's budget-deficit limits "stupid" and "rigid," sowing fresh divisions over how to save the European economy from recession.
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.
New deadline for balanced budgets splits euro club
FRANCE - A proposal by Brussels to allow euro-zone states more time to balance their budgets has blown up into a big row between EU countries that have been making sacrifices and four members -- France, Germany, Italy and Portugal -- that were falling…
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.
Trichet trial set for January 2003 start
FRANCE - The court case concerning the French banking group Credit Lyonnais, which involves Jean-Claude Trichet, the governor of the Bank of France, will start in January 2003.
Bank of France's Trichet sees euro zone growth
FRANCE - Bank of France governor Jean-Claude Trichet urged investors to "stay calm" during the slump in global financial markets, saying Wednesday that the downturn should not prevent growth in the 12-nation euro zone.