Euro & Finance
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.
Trade tensions boosted international role of euro, ECB reports
Trade tensions, challenges to multilateralism and unilateral sanctions might be bad for the economy but they have helped boost the global use of the euro, the European Central Bank reported on Thursday (13 June).
Far from ‘devalued’, euro surges as trade war hits yuan
If evidence is needed of how far ripples from the Sino-US trade war are reaching, have a look at Europe where the yuan’s slump is driving up the euro’s value against trade partners’ currencies, handicapping the export-reliant bloc’s economy. Contrary...
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.
Italy’s Di Maio, Salvini slam EU debt warning
Italy's populist Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio on Wednesday (5 June) dismissed Brussels' formal warning over the country's excessive public spending as "too easy".
Climate becomes top priority in EU’s 2020 budget
The European Commission proposed on Wednesday (5 June) a budget worth €168.3 billion for the bloc in 2020, aimed at promoting a more competitive European economy and solidarity and security in the EU.
Leak: These are the five priorities for the next finance Commissioner
A new strategy for the capital markets union, fintech, financial stability, sustainable economy and Brexit are the priorities listed for the next financial services commissioner, according to the memo drafted by European Commission officials and seen by EURACTIV.com.
IMF urges France to step up reforms to rein in debt
The International Monetary Fund on Monday (3 June) warned France that its public debt is "too high for comfort", calling on the nation to tackle the issue by stepping up spending reforms.
Isolated Italy excluded from EU top jobs race, faces pressure over debt
Italy risks a rude awakening in the race for top European Union jobs as it faces growing isolation after eurosceptic nationalists in its ruling coalition won big in last week's European Parliament elections.
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 top court rejects ECB compensations for investors affected by Greek crisis
The EU's top court ruled on Thursday (23 May) against demands for the European Central Bank to compensate private investors affected by the restructuring of the Greek public debt in 2012.
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.
Don’t let politics derail Greece’s economic recovery
With the Greek national elections on the horizon and the European parliamentary elections imminent, political controversy is driving inaccurate pronouncements on the state of the economy in Greece, writes Dimitris Papadimitriou.
No member state raised concerns about Greece’s relief measures
EU member states have not raised concerns about relief measures recently announced by the Greek government. Diplomatic sources close to the issue told EURACTIV.com that only the EU institutions have.
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.
EU leaders sideline eurozone divisions at summit on future
EU leaders meeting in a mountainous city in Romania on Thursday (9 May) will discuss the future of Europe, but the fate of the euro will be mostly ignored.
Germany, wealthy regions are biggest winners of EU single market
The European Union's industrial heartlands, its urban regions and Germany are the biggest beneficiaries of the bloc's single market, according to a study that highlights the economic and social inequalities plaguing the bloc.
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.
Italy accuses EU of prejudice after grim economic forecasts
Italy accused EU authorities of prejudice on Tuesday (7 May) after they forecast the euro zone's third largest economy would stagnate this year and its huge public debt would rise further.