The prolonged crisis exposed the vulnerability of a monetary union without a banking union. The Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM), which started operating in November 2014, is an essential step towards restoring banks to health and rebuilding trust in the banking system. The ECB is today...

This paper provides a chronology of the main financial events over the last 15 years, spanning three main crises. The first is the global financial crisis in 2008-09, and the second is the euro area sovereign debt crisis in 2010-12. Both events heralded significant reforms of the EU's governance...

Der Zusammenhalt des gemeinsamen Währungsraums schien angesichts des deutlichen Rückgangs der Zinsaufschläge seit Sommer 2012 gesichert. Doch der seit Jahresbeginn andauernde Konflikt zwischen der neuen griechischen Regierung und der Eurogruppe hat erneut an den Grundfesten der europäischen...

Die globale Finanzmarktkrise 2007-2009 hat gezeigt, wie stark ganze Volkswirtschaften von der Stabilität eines reibungslos funktionierenden Finanzsystems abhängen. Problematisch ist beispielsweise die Systemrelevanz einzelner Akteure, da diese im Notfall mit öffentlichen Mitteln gerettet...

The start of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) has spurred a new interest in the debate on the effects of monetary unions on regional economic integration. This literature either investigates past episodes of monetary unions or attempts to gauge any effect with a few years of EMU...

The ECB’s monetary policy has received considerable attention in recent years. This is less the case, however, for its regular monetary policy preparation and decision-making process. This paper reviews how the factors usually considered as critical for the success of a central banking system...

The European Central Bank (ECB) is currently conducting a review of its monetary policy strategy. The last formal review took place in 2003. Now the focus is on the extent to which this strategy has contributed in recent years to fulfill the mandate set out in the Treaties of the European Union...

Die Europäische Wirtschafts- und Währungsunion steht am Scheideweg. Einige Mitgliedstaaten leiden unter Verschuldung und hohen Kapitalmarktzinsen. Der strukturelle Reformbedarf ist enorm. Zu Beginn der Krise noch undenkbar fordern manche eine Fiskalunion mit vergemeinschafteter...