About: Economic and Monetary union
Recession fears grow as euro area inflation hits three-year low
Inflation in the euro area fell to 1% in July, its lowest level since 2016, according to Eurostat data released on Monday (19 August), adding pressure on the European Central Bank to consider relaunching its economic stimulus program in September.
Cables reveal how Britain tried to turn France against the euro in the 1990s
British diplomats tried to establish a "very private link" with former French president Jacques Chirac with the "unavowed aim" of exposing him to the risks of a European currency union, declassified documents revealed Thursday (17 July).
Stabilisation mechanism in induced coma after EU leaders’ meeting
EU leaders failed to inject further ambition to a Eurogroup deal on watered-down reforms of the Economic and Monetary Union, including a budgetary instrument for the eurozone, at the Euro summit on Friday (21 June).
Rutte: ‘I will never support stabilisation mechanisms at euro level’
In an exclusive interview with EURACTIV.com after the European Council, Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, said on Friday (21 June) that he "will never support" new budgetary instruments to stabilise the euro area if an economic shock hits the region.
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).
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.
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.
Leaders call to complete eurozone on currency’s 20th anniversary
As the euro turns 20, leaders of the EU's main institutions called on member states to complete the reform of the Economic and Monetary Union, admitting mistakes were made in managing the eurozone debt crisis.
Europe speeds up plans for no-deal scenario as Brexit chaos grows
EU leaders will discuss late on Thursday (13 December) how to address the UK's concerns about its withdrawal agreement from the EU, but discussions on contingency plans are gathering pace as the chances of an orderly divorce continue to wane.
EU claims stronger role for its currency despite flawed monetary union
The European Commission presented on Wednesday (5 December) a strategy to strengthen the international role of the euro days after member states continued to drag their feet to complete the economic and monetary union.
Eurozone budget to be ready by 2021 say France and Germany
France and Germany's finance ministers on Monday (19 November) presented their proposal on establishing a eurozone budget by 2021, describing it as a "major political breakthrough".
Italian budget standoff may consign eurozone integration drive to slow lane
An uncompromising challenge to EU budget rules by Italy is providing the first big test for reforms introduced to save the euro zone nine years ago as financial crisis threatened to tear it apart.
Course unchanged for ECB as growth worries bubble under
The European Central Bank seems certain to keep policy unchanged on Thursday (25 October) but likely to acknowledge the growth outlook is deteriorating, even if not yet enough to derail a carefully crafted retreat from stimulus.
Rutte rejects Commission’s new funds for monetary union
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Wednesday (13 June) the EU should use the tools that are already available to support reforms and protect the euro, in his latest criticism of proposals to deepen the bloc's integration.
EU ministers reach key agreement to unlock Banking Union file
Member states have reached an agreement on a package of measures aimed at reducing risk in the banking industry. The political consensus built upon a joint proposal by the French and German Finance ministers paves the way for a deepened reform of the Economic and Monetary Union.
Macron offers half-hearted defence for waning eurozone push
Emmanuel Macron toned down his ambition of completing the Economic and Monetary Union in a speech to the European Parliament on Tuesday (17 April), as he appears to be losing Germany’s backing and faces mounting pressure at home on unpopular economic reforms.
Portuguese PM: eurozone needs fiscal leg for stability, growth
The eurozone will never reach its full potential and may face a new crisis in the future without a fiscal capacity, Portugal's Prime Minister Antonio Costa told the European Parliament on Wednesday (14 March).
Moscovici: Spring 2019 is ‘too early to retire’
European Commissioner Pierre Moscovici joins EURACTIV's Economy Editor Jorge Valero for a live debate on deepening the European Economic and Monetary Union in the EURACTIV Network offices in Brussels.
In 2018, expect the euro area economy to put on the brakes – but not for the reason you may think
The euro area economy has at last started to begin recovering convincingly from the past decade’s two recessions. But two big factors will moderate growth in 2018, writes Ilaria Maselli, citing the ageing workforce in Germany as being of particular concern.
WRAPUP – Final #EUCO summit yields few results and one major dispute
European Union leaders gather in Brussels on 14-15 December for the final European Council summit of the year. Follow our live coverage for all the latest developments.
Moscovici: Referendums not needed to deepen the eurozone
The European Commission backed alternative options to referendums in order to pass major changes needed to deepen the Economic and Monetary Union amid “broader questioning” about the single currency.
ECB needs greater democratic oversight, TI says
The European Central Bank needs greater oversight and more accountability, as it has strayed into the realm of political decision-making but without the necessary scrutiny, global watchdog Transparency International said in a report on Tuesday(28 March).
Jean Tirole: ‘I hope Europe and the UK can prevent Brexit’
Brexit triumphed through demagogy and populism, according to the economist Jean Tirole, who calls for a U-turn to prevent Europe falling to the forces of separatism.