Jorge Valero
European banks face massive capital raising in challenging times
Europe will “faithfully” implement new international standards that will force its banks, struggling to regain investor trust, to raise around €135 billion in additional capital to face future crises, the European Commission said on Tuesday (12 November).
Commission wary of side effects of Libra regulation
The European Commission has called for a “proportionate” and differentiated approach to regulating digital currencies including Facebook’s Libra, as the EU needs to preserve is developing Fintech environment.
German plan brings ‘new impetus’ to banking union, Eurogroup says
Finance ministers on Thursday (7 November) welcomed a German initiative to unblock proposals for a common bank deposit guarantee scheme in the eurozone, but questioned Berlin's request to ask additional capital buffers in return for banks holding sovereign debt.
As economy slows, Commission tells member states to be ready for ‘all scenarios’
EU member states should be prepared for “all scenarios” as the European economy continues to decelerate, and is not expected to pick up in the near future, the European Commission warned in its latest economic forecast published on Thursday (7 November).
Scholz’s proposal to complete EU banking union greeted with cautious optimism
European decision makers welcomed on Wednesday (6 November) German finance minister Olaf Scholz’s attempt to unlock the European Deposit Insurance Scheme (EDIS) proposal, but warned of the long process still ahead to reach an agreement.
EU maintains option of blocking Facebook’s Libra
Europe is ready to “prevent the development” of risky digital currencies including Libra until all concerns have been addressed, according to the latest proposal to be discussed by EU finance ministers and seen by EURACTIV.com.
The Brief, powered by BP – Facebook’s wake-up call for Europe
Facebook’s digital currency Libra, which some regard as a threat to the sovereignty of nations, could be blocked in the EU unless it meets new and stricter standards. But most importantly, the initiative could be a wake-up call for Europeans to rethink their money and payment systems for the digital era.
Oettinger fires at ‘misleading’ EU budget figures
The dispute between net contributors and the European Commission escalated on Wednesday (30 October) as Budget Commissioner Gunter Oettinger described as "misleading" Germany's EU budget figures reported by the media.![Klaus Regling, CEO of the European Stability Mechanism, at the Eurogroup, 19 June 2014 [Photo: Council of the EU]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/06/klaus_regling_june_2014.jpeg)
Eurozone equipped to save big economies, says euro rescue fund chief
The European Stability Mechanism, the euro area’s rescue fund, would have enough firepower to save large economies if necessary, including Italy, the fund’s chief Klaus Regling said on Tuesday (29 October).
Draghi attempts to heal divided ECB in farewell speech
Departing ECB president Mario Draghi tried to restore unity among eurozone central bankers in his farewell speech on Monday (28 October) but he continued to defend his recent controversial monetary decisions.
Draghi’s farewell demand: the eurozone budget
Outgoing European Central Bank President Mario Draghi stressed in his farewell press conference on Thursday (24 October) that a truly eurozone budget “with an adequate size" would be the number one issue to fix in the eurozone.
EU grandees send Draghi to ‘euro pantheon’
European Central Bank President Mario Draghi chairs his last governing council on 24 October, before Christine Lagarde takes over on 1 November. EURACTIV contacted eight politicians, decision-makers and analysts from different countries to review Draghi's eight-year mandate at the ECB.
EU investment plan helped create 1.1 million jobs
Outgoing European Commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, announced on Tuesday (22 October) that the investment plan launched at the beginning of his mandate helped create 1.1 million jobs in Europe and boosted the European economy by 0.9%.
Commission tells member states to adjust their economies further
The European Commission is putting the final touches to a number of letters to various national governments that are at risk of missing their fiscal targets for 2020. Brussels wants more information on how they intend to to balance their public finances.
A new trade policy with teeth and muscle
Europe is prepared to step up its response to unfair trade practices and push for a renewed WTO, aiming to display a more assertive stance towards its partners in the future.
Summit concludes with no progress on EU’s long-term budget
EU leaders failed to narrow their differences over the EU's seven-year budget for 2021-27, the Multiannual Financial Framework, as member states maintained their entrenched positions on the EU’s spending volume and priorities.
The Brief, powered by TIF – A new dialogue with Catalonia
After years of dealing with the Catalan issue by judiciary means, the verdict in the trial of the regional separatist leaders should bring a new opportunity for political dialogue. But staunch positions and the social fracture require time and courage,...
Europe seeks a comprehensive strategy to lift its competitiveness
The dominance of US firms and Chinese companies in the digital world has sounded the alarm bells in Europe. EU and national officials have agreed that the competitiveness of European firms requires a comprehensive strategy that goes beyond easing the bloc's competition rules.
Commission takes Colombia to WTO over ‘French fries’ dispute
The European Commission announced on Monday (14 October) that it will challenge at the World Trade Organisation the tariffs imposed by Colombia on frozen French fries, which the EU executive sees as “completely unjustified”.
Rioja president: ‘We will stand behind our wine producers’ in EU-US tariff war
Concha Andreu, the president of La Rioja region, made her first visit to Brussels last week, just after the US announced fresh tariffs on European exports, including wine produced in her region. She told EURACTIV.com she is confident Europe will support the region, whose economy is heavily dependent on the wine sector.
Eurozone sharpens up new anti-shock fund
Finance ministers of the 19-member euro area reached agreement late on Wednesday (9 October) on the details of a "budgetary instrument" for the eurozone, including stronger measures to support countries hit by a sudden economic shock.
Malmstrom: ‘We cannot do much to protect individual countries on the Airbus case’
EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström is no longer optimistic when it comes to avoiding US tariffs on goods, thanks to the result of the WTO Airbus case.
CEOs reject watering down Commission’s antitrust powers
A group of European multinational chiefs proposed a modernization of the EU’s competition rules to face the rivalry of US and China’s companies in the digital age, but rejected France and Germany’s proposal to interfere in European Commission’s exclusive powers.