Eurozone
The politics of the Eurosystem
Constitutional discussions in Europe have steered clear of the ECB, but may yet impact on Europe’s only federal institution, argues Graham Bishop.
New directions for the ECB
Enlargement, a new president and a review of policy have far-reaching implications for Europe’s central bank, says Philip Lane.
A funny way to manage Europe's money
ARTICLE - This article looks at the potential for enlargement of the eurozone and its impact on the ECB's governing council. The author sees problems ahead saying that today's 18 member council is already too large and proposals for rotational voting…
Eurozone interest rates held steady at 2.75%
The European Central Bank on Thursday left interest rates in the eurozone unchanged following a half-point cut in December, despite a series of data which have suggested stuttering growth in the 12-nation bloc.
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.
Garganas calls for ECB to change its rules
The eurozone's policy framework suffered a further blow when a leading central banker called for a key change in the way interest rates are set. The criticism comes after the ECB was forced to defend the stability and growth pact. However this time the…
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.
Bank of England has doubts on eurozone convergence
With the appointment of a widely seen 'eurosceptic' as the new governor of the Bank of England, the current incumbent Sir Edward George has raised doubts about Britain's economic convergence with the eurozone but stressed the comments were based on …
Euro rates slashed to boost growth
Mounting fears over the sluggish eurozone economy have prompted the European Central Bank (ECB) to cut its key interest rate by a half-point, to 2.75%. There have been strong hints in the weeks since the last meeting from governing council members that…
Eurozone inflation edges higher
The eurozone inflation rate rose a further point to 2.3 percent it was revealed on Monday. The ECB is not considered to be worried about inflation at the moment with Ernst Welteke recently saying the bank expected inflation would head downwards.
Rising Spanish inflation widens eurozone gap
SPAIN - Inflation jumped a full percentage point in October to a year-on-year rate of 4 per cent, widening the differential with other eurozone.
Eurozone inflation climbs to 2.2% in October
GERMANY - Inflation in the Eurozone continued to climb in October according to the estimate released on Thursday by Eurostat, the European Commission's Statistical Office.
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…
GCC asks EU for currency advice
ARTICLE - Six Arab Gulf states have turned to the eurozone for advice in how to successfully start a single currency by 2010.
Ministers see tough few months ahead for eurozone
DENMARK - European Union finance ministers ended talks in Copenhagen at the weekend contemplating a fraught few months for the eurozone economy.
Report says single currency boosts trade
UK - The creation of the euro has boosted trade between eurozone countries significantly, according to new research, reinforcing the argument that the single currency has created a more genuine single market in Europe.
Eurozone CPI rises above ECB ceiling
GERMANY - Consumer price inflation in the eurozone rose above the European Central Bank's 2 per cent ceiling in August, weakening any hopes of a rate cut in the near future.
The Euro 50 Group Roundtable: The monetary dimension of European enlargement
Introduction by Edmond Alphandéry, former French finance minister and chairman of the Euro 50 group1.
ECB report euro notes proving tough to counterfeit
GERMANY - The new euro bank note has proved bad news for forgers: less than a tenth of the previous number of counterfeit notes in the eurozone has been detected in the first six months in which the new currency has circulated.
Euro did cause price prices - Eurostat
GERMANY - The changeover to euro banknotes and coins might have added as much as 0.2 percentage points to eurozone inflation in the first half of this year, Eurostat, the European Union's statistical agency, said on Wednesday.
ECB holds rates steady
GERMANY - The European Central Bank's governing council decided on Thursday to leave the eurozone's benchmark interest rate unchanged at 3.25 per cent.
Does a floating currency buy flexibility?
RESEARCH - ECB WORKING PAPER by Marcel Fratzscher, June 2002"The Euro bloc, the Dollar bloc and the Yen bloc: how much monetary policy independence can exchange rate flexibility buy in an interdependent world?"(ECB Working Paper No. 154), (pdf 416 kB).