Introductory statement to the press conference - Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the ECB,

Frankfurt am Main, 7 July 2011
Ladies and gentlemen, the Vice-President and I are very pleased to welcome you to our press conference. We will now report on the outcome of today’s meeting.

Based on its regular economic and monetary analyses, the Governing Council decided to increase the key ECB interest rates by 25 basis points, after raising rates by 25 basis points in April 2011 from historically low levels. The further adjustment of the current accommodative monetary policy stance is warranted in the light of upside risks to price stability. The underlying pace of monetary expansion is continuing to gradually recover, while monetary liquidity remains ample with the potential to accommodate price pressures in the euro area. All in all, it is essential that the recent price developments do not give rise to broad-based inflationary pressures over the medium term. Our decision will contribute to keeping inflation expectations in the euro area firmly anchored in line with our aim of maintaining inflation rates below, but close to, 2% over the medium term. Such anchoring is a prerequisite for monetary policy to contribute to economic growth in the euro area. At the same time, interest rates across the entire maturity spectrum remain low. Thus, our monetary policy stance remains accommodative, lending support to economic activity and job creation. As expected, recent economic data indicate some deceleration in the pace of economic growth in the second quarter of 2011. While the underlying momentum of economic growth in the euro area continues to be positive, uncertainty remains elevated. We will continue to monitor very closely all developments with respect to upside risks to price stability.

ΕΚΤ: Αύξηση των επιτοκίων στο 1,5%

Σε αύξηση των επιτοκίων της κατά 25 μονάδες βάσης στο 1,50% προχώρησε σήμερα η Ευρωπαϊκή Κεντρική Τράπεζα (ΕΚΤ), σε μια προσπάθεια να συγκρατήσει τις ισχυρές πληθωριστικές πιέσεις στην ευρωζώνη.

ΤΡΙΣΕ : Το πλήρες κείμενο της ομιλίας του (2.6.2011), για το Ενιαίο Υπουργείο Οικονομικών της Ευρωζώνης.

Ένας οραματιστής! Διαβάστε το πολύ ενδιαφέρον και τεκμηριωμένο όραμά του (δυστυχώς μόνο στα αγγλικά)

Building Europe, building institutions
Speech by Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the ECB
on receiving the Karlspreis 2011
in Aachen, 2 June 2011
It is an immense honour to receive the Karlspreis today.
I find it difficult to put into words how deeply humbled I am to join the most impressive company of the prize recipients. To borrow the words of Sir Isaac Newton, I feel as if I am standing on the shoulders of giants.
I express my most profound gratitude to the Karlspreis foundation for bestowing this honour. I know that this prize goes to my colleagues of the Executive Board who are present today and to all staff of the European monetary team: the European System of Central Banks. I am moved by the kind words of President Barroso and the faith the Karlspreis foundation have placed in us as true Europeans.