EMU
No agreement on euro budgetary tool- ministers send ‘hot potato’ back to leaders
EU finance ministers failed to reach an agreement in the early hours of Friday (14 June) on an anti-shock instrument to shield the euro, as they continued to clash over almost every feature on the agenda, including the source of funding.
Finance ministers press Italy to stick to EU fiscal rules
EU finance ministers told the Italian government on Thursday (13 June) to meet its fiscal obligations in order to reduce its high debt, with the European Commission insisting on “substantial corrections” to rein in public spending.
Eurogroup to nudge forward EMU reform before next week’s EU summit
EU finance ministers will try to close a deal on deepening the Economic and Monetary Union, including a tentative new budget for the eurozone, during the Eurogroup meeting on Thursday (13 June) in an inclusive format.
EU moves closer to debt action as Italy angles for compromise
The European Union moved closer on Tuesday (11 June) to taking disciplinary action over Italy's growing debt, as authorities in Rome made tentative steps to avert a procedure that could saddle the country with large fines and alienate investors.
ECB ponders further monetary stimulus to counter trade, Brexit risks
The European Central Bank decided on Thursday (6 June) to keep the low interest rates unchanged at least until mid-2020, and confirmed that it is considering further monetary stimulus, including further rate cuts and restarting the asset purchasing programme, to counter the trade tensions and Brexit uncertainty.
Five takeaways from the EU’s economic recommendations to member states
While the public finances of all EU member states are now officially out of the “red zone”, the European Commission on Wednesday (5 June) still had tough economic policy recommendations for Spain, Italy, Belgium, Greece and Germany.
Commission to launch sanction procedure against Italy
The European Commission is preparing to launch a new excessive deficit procedure against Italy as a response to the government's lack of efforts to control public spending in the highly indebted EU country.
EU elections 2019: This is what the parties want for our economy
A new industrial policy for Europe, more support for small-and-medium sized enterprises (SMEs), and improved tax policy are common priorities of the European political families for the next mandate, while a review of the ECB mandate is also included in the manifestos of many parties for the EU elections.
Growing concerns over Greece and Italy, as negotiations stall on eurozone budget
Latest Greece and Italy’s fiscal plans raised concerns in Brussels, as the Eurogroup met for another round of negotiations on the budgetary instrument for the Eurozone on Thursday (16 May), without major achievements.
Italy clouds Eurogroup discussion on public spending
Finance ministers from the 19 eurozone countries will review public spending in the region on Thursday (16 May), with Italy once again in the spotlight amid an ongoing economic slowdown.
Slowing growth: EU countries urged to further adjust spending
The European Commission called on Spain, Italy, France and Belgium to do more efforts to balance their public accounts yesterday (7 May), citing a slowing economy.
Austrian chief economist: ‘A lot can still be done to complete the euro zone’
The Austrian national bank (OeNB) hosted its annual conference on 20 years of the euro on 2 and 3 May. In an interview with EURACTIV, the bank's chief economist explains how the euro zone debt crisis changed the economic "tool box" of the EU currency and spells out the challenges ahead.
Brexit uncertainty weighs on eurozone growth, Draghi warns
ECB President Mario Draghi warned on Wednesday (10 April) that the uncertainty around Brexit was weighing on the eurozone’s growth but said he was still “hopeful” that major disruptions could be averted.
Greece gets €1 billion in return for reform progress
The eurozone finance ministers approved on Friday (5 April) the disbursement of €970 million to Greece, following the country's successful implementation of outstanding measures agreed as part of its post-bailout monitoring.
Brussels was right about Italy’s weak growth, Juncker says
It is an overstatement to claim that Italy’s debt constitutes a risk for global markets, but a zero-growth rate can only worsen Rome's problems, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said in an interview with state broadcaster RAI on Sunday (31 March).
Lagarde urges European leaders to agree on common guarantee for savings
The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, called on eurozone leaders on Thursday (28 March) to complete the banking union by reaching an agreement on the European Deposit Insurance Scheme (EDIS).
Brussels ‘really worried’ about Italy’s slowing economy
The EU warned Sunday (24 March) of a new row brewing with Italy over its budget, barely a few months after both sides agreed on a hard-fought deal with Rome's disputed 2019 finances.
EU court shields ECB from disclosing key document in Greek crisis
The European Union's court on Tuesday denied access to a European Central Bank (ECB) document which underpinned its decision to freeze vital funding to Greek banks in 2015, a turning point in the country's financial crisis.
Eurogroup keeps anti-shock capacity for eurozone budget off the table
Eurogroup president Mario Centeno said late on Monday (11 March) that the future eurozone budget would not include a stabilisation function, despite insistance by France and a handful of other countries to broaden its scope.
The Franco-German proposal for a ‘eurozone budgetary instrument’, in detail
France and Germany tabled a joint proposal on Thursday (21 February) to establish a new "eurozone budgetary instrument" that would support national reforms and investments in the single currency bloc.
Draghi steps into political debate, calls for more togetherness in EU
As European partners remain disunited on the way forward to strengthen the eurozone, ECB President Mario Draghi made a wholehearted defence on Monday (28 January) of the need to act together to complete the economic and monetary union and increase the influence of the common currency abroad.
Eurogroup kick off race for ECB chief economist, Ireland’s Lane puts name forward
Ireland presented Philip Lane’s candidacy as chief economist at the European Central Bank on Monday (21 January), as the Eurogroup opened calls for nominations in a relaxed first session of the year.
ECB reshuffle: The EU can do better than gentlemen’s agreements behind closed doors
Appointments to the European Central Bank's Executive Board are no less than a strategic and political decision over the future of the Eurozone. But experience has shown this process is not transparent, open, and democratic enough to protect the ECB from its legitimacy gap, argue Stanislas Jourdan and Sebastian Diessner.