A scheme for more than 5000 wireless internet connections in public areas across the EU were agreed by Parliament and Council negotiators on Monday evening. This informal deal includes: • the creation of a single authentication system valid throughout the EU; • funds to be deployed in a “geographically balanced manner” across member states and on a “first come, first served” basis; • at Parliament’s insistence, public wireless access points (libraries, public administrations, hospitals) may be funded only if users are allowed to...

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The Commission has today adopted new initiatives on school and higher education, including a proposal on graduate tracking to help Member States collect information on what graduates do after their studies. The overall aim of these initiatives is to help Member States provide high quality and inclusive education for all young people through a series of concrete actions, so they acquire the knowledge and skills needed to participate fully in society, are able to respond to new opportunities and challenges...

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We are saddened by the attack against our former colleague, Lucas Papademos, a brave public servant of Greece and Europe. I wish to say, on behalf of the Governing Council and staff of the ECB: our thoughts are with Lucas, his family and his colleagues. Past and present colleagues from the Executive Board wish to express their deep affection for Lucas. Compliments of the European Central Bank

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The investment outlook in Central, Eastern and South-eastern Europe is positive, but companies need to invest more in state-of-the-art machinery and equipment, and in research and development. These were the findings of the Survey of Investment and Investment Finance that the European Investment Bank published on 26 May at the GLOBSEC Forum 2017 in Bratislava. The presentation of this unique, EU-wide annual survey involving more than 12 000 firms was focused on the investment environment in Central, Eastern and South-eastern...

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During my meeting with President Trump, we discussed foreign policy, security, climate and trade relations.  My feeling is that we agreed on many areas. First and foremost, on counterterrorism, and I am sure that I do not have to explain why. But some issues remain open, like climate and trade. And I am not 100 per cent sure that we can say today -we meaning Mr. President Trump and myself- that we have a common opinion about Russia, although when...

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Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen, Buongiorno, As you are, I am happy to be here in Taormina for this 43rd G7 Summit, the sixth in fact taking place in Italy. And I would like to thank Prime Minister Gentiloni for his hospitality and wish him all possible luck to have a successful Italian Presidency of the G7. We will meet in a few moments from now – and there are four new leaders around the table. So Donald and myself, we are the...

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The College today held an Orientation Debate to prepare the Reflection Paper on the future of European Defence by 2025, which is due to be adopted on 7 June. The Paper will open up discussions on how to better use the existing opportunities under the EU Treaties to create improve the security of our citizens. Defence and security is a field that is a top priority for European Union citizens. A stronger Europe when it comes to security and defence...

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The European System of Central Banks (ESCB) welcomes the publication of the Foreign Exchange Global Code of Conduct (Code) and related adherence mechanisms material. This is a significant global initiative to promote a robust, fair, liquid, open and transparent foreign exchange (FX) market underpinned by high ethical standards which benefits all wholesale FX market participants. Well-functioning financial markets are important to central banks in ensuring a smooth transmission of monetary policy to the real economy, from which all citizens...

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• Repricing risks in fixed income markets remain significant • Market pressure on euro area banks has receded amid persisting structural vulnerabilities • Continued political uncertainty and potentially higher bond yields could trigger renewed debt sustainability concerns • Brexit not expected to pose significant financial stability risk to euro area Systemic stress indicators for the euro area have remained low over the past six months, according to the latest Financial Stability Review of the European Central Bank. The risk of a rapid repricing...

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