Joachim Nagel: Welcoming speech - Lithuanian evening
Welcoming speech by Dr Joachim Nagel, President of the Deutsche Bundesbank, at
the Lithuanian evening, Frankfurt am Main, 4 July 2023.
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1 Introduction
Ladies and gentlemen,
dear Lithuanian-German friends,
since Croatia adopted the euro at the beginning of this year, Lithuania has already
become only the second-youngest member of the euro area. Before Lithuania joined in
2015, the Bank of Lithuania and the Bundesbank signed an agreement on the
acquisition of euro banknotes. 132 million banknotes were brought to Lithuania from the
1
Bundesbank's vaults. Maybe some people took this as a symbolical birthday present,
though a hefty one, weighing 114 tonnes!
When the euro changeover was successfully completed, Yves Mersch, then a member
of the Executive Board of the ECB, said: It is not only an enormous logistical
achievement, but it is also a significant milestone for Lithuania, strengthening the ties
between the country and its European partners, and highlights the continued
attractiveness of the euro.2 Since then, the Eurosystem central banks have been
working hand in hand as an anchor for price stability in the euro area. Through times of
low inflation, and now, when fighting inflation that is far too high.
Together with your neighbours Estonia and Latvia, your country has been the hardest
hit in the euro area. The Baltic countries suffered inflation rates above 20%, which was
more than twice as high as the euro area average. Inflation has fallen from these peaks
and is expected to ease further. The latest figures for June are: 5.5% in the euro area,
8.2% in Lithuania, 6.8% in Germany. Like a beetle plague destroying the harvest,
inflation harms our prosperity. Beetles are useful in nature. But they should not get out
of hand.
On the Governing Council, we are acting in unison to get a grip on inflation. We will do
what is necessary to bring it back to 2%. To ensure a timely return to price stability, we
are working together constructively. We can all learn from each other not only in the
field of monetary policy, but also in other areas of central banking. I noted with great
interest, for instance, that the Bank of Lithuania recently received a global award for
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financial market development: for its fintech Newcomer Programme. So on the
Governing Council, we all benefit from each other's expertise. And that is very helpful
for the euro area.
Let me close with one final remark. In 2015, Lithuania took a major step to strengthen
its ties with its European partners (as Yves Mersch said). Faced with the Russian war
against Ukraine, the European Union has moved even closer together. I very much
hope that this horrible aggression will end soon. And that we can all concentrate our
efforts on shaping a peaceful and prosperous future for the continent of Europe.
1
Bank of Lithuania, Lithuania will receive euro banknotes from the Central Bank of
Germany, Press release, 21 August 2014.
2
European Central Bank, Euro changeover successfully completed in Lithuania, Press
release, 16 January 2015.
3
Bank of Lithuania, Bank of Lithuania receives a prestigious global award for financial
market development, Press release, 15 June 2023.