Germany
Jewish groups protest outside ECB building
Representatives of German Jewish groups protested against pro-Palestinian remarks by Gretta Duisenberg on Monday outside the European Central Bank, where her husband Wim Duisenberg is the president.
Dutch legislator calls for Duisenberg's sacking
European Central Bank President Wim Duisenberg should be fired because he supports his wife Gretta's anti-Israel positions and embrace of Yasser Arafat, a leading Dutch parliamentarian visiting Jerusalem has said.
ECB council member sees no need for rate move
European Central Bank Governing Council member Ernst Welteke has indicated that he's happy with the present level of euro-zone interest rates.
Germany has only itself to blame for its woes
ARTICLE - This article argues that one size always fits all in any monetary area, referring to the euro zone interest rate. And asks the question, Has the euro in any way aggravated the problem, compared with past monetary arrangements?
ECB Press Conference
PRESS CONFERENCE - Duisenberg confirmed that the recent appreciation of the euro constituted a monetary tightening which went someway to offsetting the half point interest rate cut late last year. He said the EC was right to start the excessive deficit…
ECB chief welcomes strengthening euro
European Central Bank (ECB) president Wim Duisenberg on Thursday welcomed the recent rise in the value of the euro, and said he did not see it endangering the eurozone's competitiveness.
ECB must act now
ARTICLE - The article says the ECB must continue to ease interest rates soon to further boost the flagging eurozone economy as the possibility of deflation in Germany is a greater danger than inflation.
Germany to face warning on deficit rules breach
Gerhard Schroder will today, Wednesday, be told by Brussels officials to increase efforts to tackle Germany's economic problems as speculation increases that the country will break the euro's budget deficit rules, the stability and growth pact, for a…
Bye bye, Buba
ARTICLE - This article says the ECB should scrap money supply targeting, its "first pillar" and reduce it to the role of an indicator. It also promotes a looser inflation target, with a change to a symmetrical rate perhaps as high as 3 per cent with 1…
Welteke on a framework for monetary stability
SPEECH - In the speech 'An institutional framework for monetary stability' Ernst Welteke of the Deutsche Bundesbank said that even today there is no automatic means of ensuring stable money and stable markets. It is an ongoing task and it is the task of…
Remsperger- Monetary stability Institutions matter
SPEECH - In the speech 'Monetary stability: Institutions matter' Hermann Remsperger of the Deutsche Bundesbank said the two-pillar approach of the ECB provides an excellent analytical framework. Not only allowing the ECB to integrate asset prices as an…
ECB's Liebscher: Rates appropriate, econ improving
Austrian National Bank Governor and European Central Bank governing council member Klaus Liebscher said interest rates are appropriate for the medium term, although they could still be lowered if need be. In an interview he also defended the ECB's two…
Bundesbank chief sees chance of further rates
Despite the ECB's recent rate cut, Ernst Welteke, the Bundesbank president, said Monday that the European Central Bank still had some leeway on interest rates, although monetary conditions were already favourable for eurozone growth.
ECB's Papademos backs inflation target
Recent criticism that the European Central Bank's inflation target is too ambitious is unwarranted, ECB Vice President Lucas Papademos said on Monday. His comments appear to go against the proposed re-appraisal of the Bank's inflation target.
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.
Remsperger on Germany at the Crossroads
SPEECH - In the speech 'Germany at the Crossroads' Hermann Remsperger of the Deutsche Bundesbank said with regard to wage rate policy, the Bundesbank repeatedly makes clear that the rate of inflation in Germany is lower than the euro-area average. The…
Wim Duisenberg reflects on the euro's 1st birthday
INTERVIEW - It's now been nearly a year since the Jan. 1 introduction of the euro. In an interview with Deutsche Welle Radio on Friday, the president of the European Central Bank takes stock of the euro's success.
Nickell on the picture of european unemployment
SPEECH - In the speech 'A Picture of European Unemployment: Success and Failure' Stephen Nickell of the Bank of England said that although average unemployment in Europe is relatively high compared to OECD countries outside Europe, very high unemployment…
ECB rate cut will boost confidence: Welteke
Following the ECB's half point interest rate cut to 2.75 percent last week, ECB council member Ernst Welteke has said the move should boost confidence and bring long term improvement in euro zone economies.
Welteke on EMU - Experience and Outlook
SPEECH - In the speech 'European Monetary Union - Experience and Outlook' Ernst Welteke of the Deutsche Bundesbank said that in principle, all the Maastricht criteria, including the exchange rate criterion, have to be met before a country can join the…
ECB chief says euro zone inflation risks falling
Duisenberg's comments on Tuesday, in testimony to the European parliament, seem to strengthen feeling that the ECB will cut interest rates when it meets on Thursday. The futures market seems certain of at least a quarter point cut with a fifty per cent…
Eichel insists Germany will lower deficit
The EU's Stability and Growth Pact received some much needed support with Germany's Finance Minister Hans Eichel on Tuesday insisting that Germany would ensure its budget deficit next year came in below 3pc of GDP.
Bundesbank may sell some of its gold
The Bundesbank may sell some of its US$35 billion of gold to buy more profitable assets, executive board member Hans-Helmut Kotz said. In April we reported that Bundesbank President Ernst Welteke said that the international agreement limiting gold sales…
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.