The European Investment Bank (EIB) signed today EUR 285 million of loans to support various energy projects in Greece, improving the electricity transmission and interconnection network across the country, while at the same time bolstering environmental-friendly energy security and efficiency. In the presence of EIB President Werner Hoyer, four finance agreements were signed today in Athens in a public ceremony by the EIB Vice-President responsible for Greece,Jonathan Taylor, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Public Power Corporation S.A. Emmanuel Panagiotakis, Chief Executive Officer of the GreekIndependent Power Transmission...

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Speech by Benoît Cœuré, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, at the ESRB workshop on CCP interoperability arrangements,  2 November 2015 Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank the European Systemic Risk Board for inviting me to speak on such an important topic. Central counterparty (CCP) interoperability is a relatively new development in the European clearing landscape – the first interoperability arrangements between two European CCPs were only established in the early 2000s, covering transactions on government bonds and...

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The European Investment Bank (EIB) signed today a EUR 100 million loan for supporting key infrastructure investments in Cyprus, as well as an additional EUR 15 million loan for supporting local SMEs and MidCaps, helping to boost economic recovery and create new jobs. “The EIB remains firmly committed to supporting the Cypriot economy and we have clearly shown this by our actions during the crisis and again today,” said EIB President Werner Hoyer. “The EU Bank has been a reliable...

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On October 29th, Dr. Dombret, Executive Board member of the Deutsche Bundesbank, delivered a speech at the Financial Markets Group Research Centre of the London School of Economics and Political Science in London. Some of the items discussed include the reconstruction of the financial infrastructure after the banking crisis, lessons learned, plans forward and the various challenges regarding the baking system, finalizing the recovery and resolution framework and learning to live with different market structures. In my speech tonight I will outline the...

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The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 10.8% in September 2015, down from 10.9% in August 2015, and from 11.5% in September 2014. This is the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since January 2012. The EU28 unemployment rate was 9.3% in September 2015, down from 9.4% in August 2015, and from 10.1% in September 2014. This is the lowest rate recorded in the EU28 since September 2009. These figures are published by Eurostat, the statistical office of...

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Monday 2 November marks the day in the year when women across Europe stop being paid, while men will continue to earn money until 31 December. The average hourly wage for women in Europe is 16% lower than it is for men, so women effectively work 58 days for free each year, for work of the same value. Ahead of this occasion, First Vice-President Timmermans, Commissioner Thyssen and Commissioner Jourová said: "Equality between men and women is one of the fundamental values of the European...

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On Sunday 1 November 2015, the Juncker Commission marks one year in office. At the beginning of his mandate, President Juncker said this would be a new start for Europe, and that his Commission would focus on ten political priorities, the key challenges that face both our economy and society. The Commission's €315 billion investment plan to kick-start jobs and growth is up and running. The first projects are in operation and many more will follow. Throughout the past year the European Commission has made concrete proposals, putting...

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New ECB report covers banks as well as other financial intermediaries Banks, insurance companies and pension funds in largest euro area economies exposed primarily domestically Consolidation and rationalisation in the banking sector continued in 2014, and the median Tier 1 ratio increased to 14.4% from 13% Insurance companies and pension funds are starting to adjust structurally to low yield environment Shadow banking sector continues to grow mainly on account of an expanding investment fund sector The European Central Bank has today published the Report...

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Following a vote in the European Parliament, new EU rules are set to improve the transparency of certain financial transactions and help supervisors and investors better understand risks. The European Commission welcomes today's adoption by the European Parliament of the Regulation on Transparency of Securities Financing Transactions (known as SFTR). This new law, proposed by the European Commission in January 2014, significantly improves the transparency of securities financing transactions in the shadow banking sector. These new rules also help identify the...

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