About: Eurozone
Leaders wrap up year-long euro reform with face-saving package
EU leaders concluded on Friday (14 December) a year-long discussion to bolster the eurozone by approving extra money to resolve failing banks and additional powers for the European Stability Mechanism, the EU’s rescue fund.
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.
ECB urges completion of monetary union in ‘unstable’ world
ECB chief Mario Draghi called for the completion of the eurozone framework and to reduce divergencies between West and East members in order to protect the euro in a more "unstable" world on Monday (26 November).
Commission ‘not at war’ with Italy, Juncker says
The European Commission has no plan to start a war with Italy over its budget, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said a day after a working dinner with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Saturday (24 November). But Rome confirmed that the main reforms included in the disputed budget will stay unchanged.
Commission: Italy, EU to work to bring views on 2019 budget closer together
Italy and the European Commission will work in the coming days to bring closer their positions on Italy's 2019 draft budget, which the EU executive says breaks EU laws by not reducing the country's huge public debt.
Katainen on Brexit: We have to take Spain’s concerns very seriously
Member states share Spain's concerns over the future relationship with Gibraltar after Brexit, Vice-President of the European Commission for Jobs, Growth, Investment & Competitiveness Jyrki Katainen told EURACTIV.com in a long interview where he addressed all the pressing challenges the EU is currently facing.
Germany proposes tough conditions for ‘European IMF’
Germany's plans for a "European Monetary Fund" to help eurozone states in difficulty would set strict eligibility criteria that shut out those who are failing to tackle high national debt.
Commission launches excessive deficit procedure against Italy, saying it is ‘sleepwalking into instability’
The European Commission hedged its bets and called for the opening of an excessive deficit procedure against Italy on Wednesday (21 November) as Rome refused once again to revise its draft budget plan.
In Belgium, Macron pleads for ‘two or three speed Europe’, treaty change
French President Emmanuel Macron escaped protests over fuel prices and tumbling approval ratings at home with a series of state visits that placed Europe at the centre of attention.
Italy’s revised budget ‘did not dispel concerns’, Eurogroup president says
Italy’s slightly modified budget might not get the green light from the European Commission, the president of the Eurogroup, Mario Centeno, told the Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee on Tuesday (20 November), raising the likelihood of an excessive deficit...
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".
In Strasbourg, Merkel brings European army one step further
In an eagerly awaited speech on the future of Europe before what she called 'the biggest democratic parliament of the world', German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Tuesday (13 November) for a "real, true European army" and a common asylum framework.
ECB to assess six Bulgarian banks as step towards Banking Union membership
European Central Bank (ECB) will conduct a comprehensive assessment of six Bulgarian banks as part of the Balkan country's bid to join the European Union's banking union, Bulgaria's central bank said on Monday (12 November).
No compromise on EU budget rules, Moscovici warns Italy
The EU’s Economics chief Pierre Moscovici insisted on Thursday (8 November) that there was little room for Brussels to compromise with the Italian government over its budget plans as he unveiled the European Commission's latest economic forecasts.
In the next seven years Central Europe will determine the future of Europe
Central Europe could become more positive to the core EU in the likely case of another major economic crisis, which would oblige them to marry the eurozone family, writes Wojciech Przybylski, who also looks at several other, more dramatic, scenarios for the region.
Commission rejects Italian draft budget in unprecedented decision
The European Commission rejected Italy’s 2019 budget in an unprecedented decision on Tuesday (23 October), after the government in Rome failed to give a substantial response to the executive's allegations of a breach of the EU law.
Italy’s ‘unprecedented’ breach of fiscal rules clouds euro summit
Euro-area leaders agreed on Thursday (18 October) to accelerate the work to bolster the monetary union as the European Commission questioned half a dozen member states’ efforts to balance their public accounts, particularly Italy.
IMF: Brexit, low productivity to slow eurozone growth
The International Monetary Fund warned on Tuesday (9 October) of a further slowing in eurozone's economic growth, which was forecast at 2% this year, due to persistent uncertainty over Brexit and low productivity. EURACTIV’s partner efe-epa reports.
Top EU judge backs ECB national bonds purchase policy
The European Central Bank's bond-buying programme does not exceed its mandate and is in accordance with EU law, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) advocate general said on Thursday (4 October), in response to complaints raised in Germany.
Moscovici slams Italy budget as stocks plunge
The European Union on Friday (28 September) issued a stern warning to Italy's populist leaders following their defiant pledge to increase spending and run a budget deficit that risks putting Rome on a collision course with Brussels.
Draghi warns on protectionism as a risk for the Eurozone
The Eurozone should prepare for US and China protectionist measures if they materialise, president of the European Central Bank Mario Draghi said on Monday (24 September) at the European Parliament.
Latvia: When the United States scolded the ‘Switzerland of the Baltics’
Latvian bank Rietumu has been hit with a fine of €80 million by French judges for having laundered hundreds of millions of euros. EURACTIV France reports in the second part of its Special Report on Latvia.
Italy on collision course with EU over budget deficit
Party leaders in the Italian coalition government signalled they will seek leeway from the EU to increase next year's budget deficit, heading on a collision course with the European Commission and investors who want it cut.