Dear Professor Draghi, caro Mario, Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen, Today we mark one year since the Draghi report was released. But let me go back for a moment to two years ago, when I first called you, Mario, to propose that you embark on this new mission. I remember you were intrigued by the offer. But you set one condition. You said this new report had to make a real difference. You were not interested in writing another academic paper. You wanted...

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Paris, 15 September 2025 Speech by Christine Lagarde, President of the ECB, 'Conversations pour demain' on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Institut Montaigne in Paris, France It is a great honour to be invited to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Institut Montaigne with you. For a quarter of a century, this institution has stood out for its independence of thought. That independence has given its work both credibility and influence. As a central banker, independence has a special...

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Today, the Commission has launched the European strategy on research and technology infrastructures to boost Europe's leadership in scientific excellence and technological innovation. To remain a frontrunner in the global race for science and innovation, Europe must reinforce decisively its research and technology infrastructures and make them even more integrated and accessible to a wider range of users. The strategy ensures that scientists, researchers, innovators, and industry have easy access to Europe's cutting-edge facilities, high-quality data and tailored services. It...

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“Check against delivery” President Metsola, Honourable Members,   Europe is in a fight. A fight for a continent that is whole and at peace. For a free and independent Europe. A fight for our values and our democracies. A fight for our liberty and our ability to determine our destiny for ourselves. Make no mistake – this is a fight for our future. I thought long and hard about whether to start this State of the Union address with such a stark appraisal. After all,...

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Rising health expenditures and population ageing prompted many governments to increase social security contribution rates in 2024, reflecting a broader trend towards increasing revenues to strengthen the long-term sustainability of social protection systems, according to a new OECD report. The tenth annual edition of Tax Policy Reforms: OECD and Selected Partner Economies provides a comprehensive overview of tax reform trends, offering cross-country comparisons and tracking policy developments over time. This 2025 edition describes tax reforms implemented in 2024 across 86 jurisdictions, including all OECD...

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