About: Eurozone
Germany’s slowing growth is penalising the whole of Europe
The European train is slowing down as one of its main drivers, the German economy, is experiencing a slowdown. At the same time, job creation across the EU is declining. EURACTIV's partner Euroefe reports.
Unconventional measures are seeing a comeback at the ECB
The ECB's key interest rate remains at zero and is expected to be at that rate at least until summer 2020. However, ECB chief Mario Draghi is suggesting that a decisive fiscal policy is far more important for the eurozone, especially for Germany and Italy. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Commission’s forecast paves the way for new ECB stimulus
The European Commission kept its growth forecast unchanged at 1.2% on Wednesday (10 July) but revised downwards inflation to 1.3% for this year and the next, strengthening the case for further monetary stimulus as global economic risks worsen.
Croatia launches bid to join euro waiting room
Croatia launched Thursday (4 July) a bid to join Europe's Exchange Rate Mechanism II, the two-year waiting room for eurozone candidates which pegs their currencies to the euro, the national bank said.
EU fiscal board insists on stabilisation mechanism
Any systemic shock will not affect just some countries but the whole euro area so if member states want to counter it adequately, they need to have a central fiscal capacity, European Fiscal Board (EFB) president Niels Thygesen told reporters on Tuesday (25 June).
Italy’s Tria sees no obstacles to budget deal with EU
Italy's economy minister said on Tuesday (25 June) he was confident of reaching an agreement with the European Union over the country's budget, adding that deficit targets in a draft deal would reflect a "more than prudent" fiscal policy.
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).
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.
Global growth continues to weaken, World Bank report confirms
After the IMF and the OECD, the World Bank has also cut its 2019 growth forecasts. Uncertainties over trade and investment are at the root of this slowdown, which is also affecting the eurozone. EURACTIV France reports.
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 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.
Juncker points the finger at Germany, Austria, Netherlands for impeding eurozone reform
The Netherlands, Austria "and all too often Germany" are preventing deeper euro zone integration, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told German newspaper Handelsblatt.
Ahead of EU polls, Poland’s Kaczynski urges crossparty anti-euro stance
The leader of Poland’s ruling conservatives on Wednesday (17 April) urged opposition leaders to back its view that the country should not join the euro until its economy is on a par with that of western neighbours. When Poland joined...
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 Brief – A political marriage on the rocks
It all looked quite harmonious in late January, when German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her French counterpart Emmanuel Macron pledged closer cooperation through the new Aachen Treaty. But just like in any relationship, at some point you go through a rocky patch.
Commission calls for reforms to combat economic slowdown
The European Commission will urge member states on Wednesday (27 February) to reform their economies as the risks related to the US-China trade war, a disorderly Brexit or the Italian economy could worsen the deceleration of the European economy.
Uncertainty dampens European growth
Euro area economy is expected to slow down more markedly than initially expected, because of the impact of increasing risks, including a disorderly Brexit, and external tensions primarily driven by the US-China trade war.
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.
Will the new Franco-German treaty revive the EU, or hold it back?
The new Franco-German co-operation treaty might strengthen the axis of the EU's two most powerful countries, but that might not be helpful for the rest of the bloc, writes Sofia Vasilopoulou.
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.
Tweets of the Week: Meaningful vote, Adamowicz, and the eurozone turns 20
This week, Theresa May thrashed by her peers, mayor’s murder brings Gdansk to tears and the Euro celebrates 20 years. This episode is supported by ACCA.