Finance and Monetary Affairs in the EU

Latest business news about the Financial Policy in the European Union.

An overarching policy and strategy in financial services and financial markets ensures coherence and consistency between the various policy areas, such as banking, insurance, securities and investment funds, financial markets infrastructure, retail financial services and payment systems.

FACT SHEETS

General Information

• Financial Services in the EU - General Policy
• Regulatory Capital in the EU
• Investment Funds in the EU
• Useful Information
• Contacts

Banking

• Banking policy in the EU
• Banking: Key EU directives

LATEST NEWS

Standard and Poor's warns of south eurozone downgrade — 09 February 2010, 23:32 CET

Standard and Poor's warned Tuesday it might downgrade the ratings of southern eurozone members this year, but added it was still an advantage for these countries to remain in the single currency.

Germany working on Greek aid deal: report — 09 February 2010, 19:22 CET

Germany, the eurozone's biggest economy, is preparing an aid plan to help struggling Greece resolve its massive debt problems, the Financial Times Deutschland reported.

Oil prices leap as dollar falls against euro — 09 February 2010, 23:25 CET

Oil prices rebounded Tuesday as the dollar weakened against the euro on whetted risk appetite, making crude cheaper for buyers using stronger currencies.

Europe can help out cash-strapped Greece without IMF: Brussels — 09 February 2010, 23:21 CET

The European Commission on Tuesday urged European leaders to offer clear support" for Greece in return for real efforts from Athens to resolve its budget crisis, ruling out the need for IMF help.

EU concerned of contagion from Greek fiscal crisis — 09 February 2010, 23:09 CET

The European Commission voiced concern Thursday that Greece's fiscal crisis poses a "serious risk of spillover" into other parts of the 16-nation eurozone.

Moldova: Economy Overview — 09 February 2010, 12:01 CET

Moldova remains one of the poorest countries in Europe despite recent progress from its small economic base.

EU commission chief calls for closer EU economic cooperation — 09 February 2010, 11:12 CET

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso urged EU nations Tuesday to cooperate more tightly in the face of the economic crisis.

ECB chief leaves Australia early for EU summit — 09 February 2010, 15:50 CET

European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet will leave a central bankers' meeting in Sydney early to attend an informal European Union summit in Brussels, an ECB spokesman told AFP on vTuesday.

Strawberries offer lifeline for Romania's rust belt — 09 February 2010, 04:12 CET

Hundreds of women crowd outside a local employment office in this run-down Romanian factory town on the banks of the Danube, hoping to be selected to work as strawberry pickers in Spain.

Changes to international lease accounting standards may impact the cost and availability of finance for Europe’s small businesses — 09 February 2010, 00:11 CET

Leaseurope, the European leasing industry's representative body, has today called for businesses and policy makers across Europe to review the latest plans of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) that will lead to a drastic change in existing lease accounting requirements.

Kosovo: Economy Overview — 08 February 2010, 22:56 CET

Over the past few years Kosovo's economy has shown significant progress in transitioning to a market-based system and maintaining macroeconomic stability, but it is still highly dependent on the international community.

Europe needs an 'economic government': EU president — 09 February 2010, 00:29 CET

The European Union's new president, Herman Van Rompuy, is calling for an "economic government" for the bloc, with closer policy coordination and financial incentives for good performers.

EU gives Romania an extra year to rein in deficit — 08 February 2010, 19:50 CET

The Commission has given Romania an extra year, till 2012, to bring its swollen public deficit back to the EU's limit of three per cent of GDP, due to the gravity of the economic crisis.

EU backs Dutch aid to AFN AMRO, Fortis while extending probe — 08 February 2010, 15:29 CET

The EU competition watchdog on Monday temporarily approved a Dutch recapitalisation package for ABN AMRO and Fortis Bank Nederland (FBN), while extending its in-depth probe into state aid for the nationalised banks.

No eurozone contagion risk from Greece: Fitch — 08 February 2010, 12:17 CET

Eurozone countries face no risk of "contagion" from the debt and deficit crises afflicting Greece, Portugal and Spain, the chairman of ratings agency Fitch insisted Monday.

Crisis-hit Europe seeks rebound with new economic strategy — 08 February 2010, 11:37 CET

The European Union, shaken by Greece's fiscal crisis and struggling to get its new institutions into gear, hopes to relaunch itself this week as leaders mull improved, coordinated economic governance.

Bulgaria risks losing 'billions' of EU funds — 08 February 2010, 11:39 CET

Sofia risks losing billions of euros of EU development funds because of a failure to submit well-budgeted, corruption-free projects for financing, a Bulgarian parliament committee warned on Sunday.

Britain's Mandelson says EU failing to lead on banking reform — 07 February 2010, 12:12 CET

British Business Secretary Peter Mandelson attacked the European Union on Sunday for failing to provide stronger international leadership on banking reform following the financial crisis.

Alarm spreads over Europe's massive deficits — 07 February 2010, 15:20 CET

The swelling public deficits in Portugal, Spain and Greece have plunged the eurozone into the biggest crisis in its 11-year life, presaging years of belt-tightening, analysts warn.

Debt crisis for Europe to deal with: Canada FM — 05 February 2010, 23:17 CET

G7 finance ministers and central bankers will discuss a looming European debt crisis at talks here, but it is for the EU to address it, Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said Friday.

Dexia announces sell-off deal to assuage EU over bailout — 05 February 2010, 20:47 CET

Franco-Belgian bank Dexia, rescued by a major bailout during the 2008 crisis, has agreed to slash its operations by over a third over the next four years in order to get EU approval for the public aid.

World markets hit by Europe economy fears, US jobs data — 05 February 2010, 22:24 CET

Global stock markets fell, the euro slid to a near nine-month low and oil prices suffered as fears over European debt levels and disappointing US jobs data cast a shadow Friday across the world economy.

Estonian deflation slows — 05 February 2010, 23:03 CET

Recession-hit Estonia's deflationary trend eased in January as prices fell by 0.7 per cent against the same month in 2009, official data showed on Friday.

Montenegro: Economy Overview — 05 February 2010, 15:45 CET

Montenegro severed its economy from federal control and from Serbia during the MILOSEVIC era and maintained its own central bank, adopted the Deutchmark, then the euro - rather than the Yugoslav dinar - as official currency, collected customs tariffs, and managed its own budget.

Montenegro Investment Climate 2009 — 05 February 2010, 14:42 CET

Montenegro is establishing a liberal investment regime. Although the continuing transition has not yet eliminated all structural barriers, the Government recognizes the need to remove impediments, reform the business environment, and open the economy to foreign participation.