Eurozone
ECSDA calls for postponement on settlement system
The European Central Securities Depositories Association (ECSDA) has called for the European Central Bank to postpone plans to implement an integrated securities settlement system in the euro zone, the Financial Times reported.
Trichet 'inflexibly attached' to ECB independence
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet, told reporters Thursday 8 February he is 'inflexibly attached' to implementing EU Treaty provisions that protect the central bank's independence from political meddling.
ECB's Trichet flags rate increase with 'vigilance'
European Central Bank President Jean- Claude Trichet signalled the ECB will likely raise interest rates next month as the pace of economic growth threatens to stoke inflation.
Germany's Steinbrueck backs ECB's independence
German finance minister Peer Steinbrueck said Wednesday 7 February that the independence of the European Central Bank, which has received criticism from some French politicians, must be respected.
ECB seeks to preserve its independence
This article from the Associated Press, published Tuesday 6 February, looks at the debate over whether countries that use the euro should have an influence on its decision-making process.
NBP's Skrzypek sees 2012-2013 euro adoption
In an interview published in Sunday 4 February's issue of Wprost, National Bank of Poland head Slawomir Skrzypek announced that it will be at least five years before Poland adopts the euro.
ECB rapped by EU privacy regulator over Swift
The EU's data protection supervisor, Peter Hustinx, said Thursday 2 February that it was unacceptable for confidential data to be handed to US authorities and the European Central Bank should do more to control the Swift payment transactions network.
Remarks by the ECB on the oversight of SWIFT
The European Central Bank (ECB) said in a press release Thursday 1 January it would like to note that central banks are responsible for fostering financial stability and promoting the smooth operation of payment and settlement systems.
Stark says ECB policy still accommodative
European Central Bank chief economist Juergen Stark told Boersen-Zeitung in an interview to be published Thursday 1 February that eurozone monetary policy remains accommodative despite the 25 basis point December rate increase.
Germany's Steinbrueck defends 'sacrosanct' ECB
German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck insisted Tuesday 30 January that European Central Bank independence was "sacrosanct" amid calls from some politicians for a more accountable ECB.
ECB's Gonzalez-Paramo on liquidity management
In the speech 'The challenges to liquidity management in the euro area: the perspective of the ECB' given on 25 January Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo of the ECB said we are still investigating the underlying causes for the upward pressure on short-term…
Europe's uneven growth challenge
According to this article on the Project Syndicate website, growth has become less evenly balanced throughout the eurozone with the resurgence in German growth.
ECB policy still accommodating says Bini Smaghi
ECB board member Lorenzo Bini Smaghi said Saturday 27 January in a speech in Milan that current eurozone interest rates are still "accommodating" and will continue to be so in the coming months.
ECB's Trichet sees risk of inflation spiral
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet told French television there is a risk of an increase in inflation in the eurozone and noted that ECB rates are well below those of the US Fed.
ECB's Stark on policy efforts for 2007
In the speech 'Applause for 2006 should not abate policy efforts for 2007' given on 25 January Jurgen Stark of the ECB warned of inflation risks in the eurozone and reiterated that the central bank will act to preserve price stability.
ECB won't tolerate being a political football
According to this article from Reuters, published Wednesday 24 January, the European Central Bank has mounted its strongest defence so far against recent attacks on its independence from politicians.
ECB's Weber sees upward risks to inflation
Further European Central Bank action is needed to make sure that eurozone price stability remains in check, European Central Bank Governing Council member Axel Weber said Wednesday 24 January.
Bini Smaghi says ECB rate may rise further
ECB board member Lorenzo Bini Smaghi told La Repubblica in an interview published Tuesday 23 January that the ECB's rate is "still accommodating" and may have to rise further if growth expectations are confirmed to avoid excess liquidity.
Stark on monetary policy: a view from the ECB
In the speech 'Objectives and challenges of monetary policy: a view from the ECB' given on 19 January Jurgen Stark of the ECB said the ECB retains the freedom to move interest rates whenever it considers it necessary to control inflation pressures,…
Ministers concerned over settlement plan - report
European finance ministers have raised doubts about the European Central Bank's plan to provide its own settlement system for eurozone securities transactions, the Financial Times reported Monday 22 January.
ECB denies Trichet, Juncker, Almunia meetings plan
The European Central Bank denied a report on Monday 22 January which claimed Jean-Claude Trichet, Eurogroup chief Jean-Claude Juncker and EU commissioner Joaquin Almunia had agreed to hold informal meetings on the sidelines of the ECB's monthly press…
ECB's Liikanen says inflation remains a big risk
European Central Bank Governing Council member Erkki Liikanen said there were still upside risks to inflation in the eurozone, Finnish national broadcaster YLE reported Sunday 21 January.
Bini Smaghi on global capital & monetary policies
In the speech 'Global capital and national monetary policies' given on 18 January Lorenzo Bini Smaghi of the ECB said central banks must be careful not to overreact to declines in real bond yields, which may reflect special factors related to…
Europe's club of nations needs a rule change
According to this article by Zdenik Tma, governor of the Czech National Bank, first published by the Financial Times on 4 January, ERM-2 rules might have been perfectly legitimate in the past, but today they are outdated and -counter-productive.