Jean-Claude Trichet: The euro - successes and challenges
Speech by Mr Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the European Central Bank, at the European
American Press Club, Paris, 14 January 2005.
* * *
Introduction
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a pleasure to be here today to share with you some thoughts on the successes and challenges of
the euro. European integration has moved steadily forward over the past decades, witnessing
considerable success and triggering fundamental change. The euro, which is probably the most visible
and tangible symbol of this integration process, is this year entering its seventh year, with a single
currency and a single monetary policy for more than 300 million citizens. All in all, the European
Monetary Union has managed very well in not always so easy conditions, despite some critiques,
doubts and fears that were voiced earlier on. Of course, the euro also has brought about significant
challenges. I would today like to discuss in more detail what I see as the main successes and
challenges of the euro. I would also like to reflect on the need to accept change and reform in order to
move forward. Let me start with the successes to date.
Successes
The first success I would like to stress is a technical success which enabled a smooth implementation
of the single monetary policy from day one, namely the in early
integration of money markets
January 1999. Thanks to careful technical preparations of connecting national payment systems,
smooth interbank transactions with small spreads were made possible. Looking at European financial
markets more in general, while there has been a continued process of integration over the last
decades, the arrival of the euro certainly accelerated this process by removing barriers to cross-border
trading and creating more scope for risk sharing and diversification. In particular, the depth and
breadth of financial markets have increased as a consequence of the elimination of exchange rate risk
and the rapid growth of new market segments, such as the corporate bond market, allowing more
investors to access the various financial markets in the euro area. This in turn has led to more efficient
financial markets which have contributed to economic growth.
Second, euro cash changeover stands out as a major milestone in European monetary history. It
was also a particularly successful event in terms of logistics. Changing the currency for more than
300 million people in a few weeks was truly daunting. The efficiency and enthusiasm with which this
changeover took place was exemplary. This success can be attributed to the quality of the
preparations made by all players involved and at all levels, not to mention the enthusiastic reception of
the general public. In fact, in all countries, the changeover period was much swifter that anticipated.
Sharing a single currency implies a need of a feeling of community and trust among all the users of the
currency. After all, a currency is backed by the mutual trust placed in it by its users. The relative ease
with which euro cash was introduced and accepted by people shows that there may be stronger
feelings of community in Europe than many would have thought.
Third, another important, but sometimes grossly underestimated success of the euro relates to the
convergence of long-term market interest rates towards the best performers in terms of credibility
and low interest rates. The stability oriented macroeconomic policy framework, focusing on price
stability and sound fiscal policies, has resulted in significantly reduced financing costs in most
countries. Today, the European economy benefits from benchmark long-term market interest rates
well below 4%, a level which most issuers have never seen in the last fifty years. The reduction in risk
premia and the stabilisation in inflation expectations at low levels is a major achievement which must
be maintained by today's and future economic policy making.
Fourth, a related success of the euro has been an improved resilience against crises in financial
markets. For those who experienced the many episodes of exchange and interest rate volatility
between the 1970s and the mid-1990s, it is clear that, without the single currency, events in recent
years such as the financial crisis of autumn 1998, the turbulence that followed the September 11
terrorist attacks or the past swings in global exchange markets would have triggered major
turbulences in European countries.
Last but not least, I would like to mention the single monetary policy, which has preserved price
stability and credibility in a transparent manner. With a clearly defined mandate to pursue price
stability in the Treaty and a strong focus on independence, the European Central Bank, together with
the participating national central banks, has implemented the single monetary policy in the euro area
since 1999. As you know, the ECB defines price stability as inflation rates below, but close to, 2% over
the medium term. Looking back at the period since the introduction of the euro, actual inflation rates
were not always in line with price stability, due to exceptional shocks such as the rise in oil prices in
recent years. However, these shocks did not undermine the credibility of our promise to ensure price
stability over the medium term and therefore did not derail inflation expectations. This was due to our
medium-term orientation of monetary policy which is aimed at providing a stable anchor for economic
agents. Indeed, the best contribution of monetary policy to economic growth is when inflation and
inflation expectations are firmly anchored at price stability. One way of measuring our success in
providing this long-term anchor is to study long-term market expectations for inflation. Taken all
measures together, from financial markets or from survey data, the information indicates that we have
been successful in stabilising inflation expectations at below 2%. But these measures also indicate
that we need to remain vigilant as regards any upside risks to price stability over the medium term.
The understanding of how a central bank reacts to data and indicators is crucial for the anchoring of
inflation expectations and for the credibility of monetary policy. The overall success of the ECB's
monetary policy also reflects, in my view, a success in terms of transparency and communication.
As a public institution providing a public good with full independence, we are responsible and
accountable to the people of Europe. Consequently, a significant part of our job is devoted to
explaining and discussing our actions and our goals to the public. From the start, the Governing
Council has decided to communicate its assessment of the economic situation and of the risks to price
stability in a new and exceptionally transparent fashion. Monetary policy decisions are explained at the
press conference which takes place immediately after the first Governing Council meeting of the
month; the ECB was the first major central bank to embark on such concept of transparency, and it
was then followed by other important central banks. Further explanations of our policy are presented in
the ECB's Monthly Bulletin, in speeches given by members of the Governing Council and in the
testimonies of the President before the European Parliament.
Challenges
Let me now turn to two of the most important challenges we are currently facing and which need to be
addressed in order to fully reap the benefits of the euro, namely raising potential economic growth and
the enlargement of the euro area.
Let me start with the first challenge I want to discuss today, namely the need to raise economic
growth in a sustainable manner. We all know that the growth performance of a number of euro area
countries has been disappointing during the past years, both in a historical perspective and compared
with other economies. This is also true since the start of the euro, despite the improved financing
conditions I mentioned earlier. This reflects both international and domestic factors: The world
economy is transforming rapidly, external competition has become stronger, knowledge is easily
transferable and the ability to adjust to changing economic circumstances is increasingly important.
Many European countries have not been adapting their economic, social and legal frameworks - set
up under very different conditions - rapidly enough to face these challenges. At the same time, the age
structure of Europe is getting increasingly unfavourable. In facing this challenge, the options are
limited; we need to adjust our regulatory frameworks in product, labour and financial markets in a way
that competitiveness and economic dynamism are maintained. Some countries in the euro area, which
have done well in terms of maintaining high output and employment growth, demonstrate that such
changes are possible not only outside Europe but also within.
At the EU level, the Lisbon Agenda constitute the main driver in this field. It aims at enhancing the
knowledge-based economy and thereby productivity, increase labour participation and foster financial
integration. Recently, the report prepared by the High Level Group chaired by Wim Kok provided an
assessment of the Lisbon Strategy and stated that there had been a "disappointing delivery" on the
agreed measures. The report expressed an urgent need for renewed impetus, stronger commitment of
national governments and a sharpening of the Lisbon Strategy's focus on the acceleration of
employment and productivity growth. It also regards the role of benchmarking as crucial. The ECB
strongly welcomes these proposals, as they are well in line with our own views. Indeed, what matters
for our future success is innovation, productivity enhancement and employment growth and all
measures should be directed to achieve these results.
Let me further elaborate on a few areas in urgent need of reform. Most observers agree that further
reforms in labour markets in many euro area countries are absolutely crucial in order to improve the
quality, incentives and flexibility of labour supply. The current mix of tax and benefit systems continue
to provide a disincentive to take up work or to work longer hours in many countries. Measures to make
wage growth reflect more strongly regional and sectoral productivity differences would certainly be
helpful. In addition, efforts by Governments to improve education and training systems to improve
skills are to be supported. In product markets, substantial progress has been made during the 1990s
with important effects on productivity, prices and employment. This is an encouragement to do more in
terms of fully implementing the Single Market and reducing market entry barriers in national
regulations which continue to hamper competition. Especially in the services sector, where most new
jobs are created, sometimes excessive regulation still persists. Finally, I believe that further integration
in euro area financial markets is possible, especially as regards the integration of equity markets,
continued efforts to harmonise legal and regulatory frameworks, and the consolidation of the banking
sector. Not only would these reforms raise potential economic growth, but they would also make the
economies more flexible and thereby strengthen the resilience against shocks. This in turn would
facilitate the pursuit of stability oriented macroeconomic policies.
Let me now turn to a second major challenge I see, namely enlarging the euro area. The historic
EU enlargement with ten countries on the 1st of May last year was only a first step in the process of
economic and monetary integration of the new Member States. None of the 10 new Member States
have a special status as regards the introduction of the euro, implying that they are all expected to
strive to fulfil the convergence criteria and subsequently to adopt the euro.
An important step in this process is to join the exchange rate mechanism ERM II, for which at least a
two year membership is foreseen in order to comply with the exchange rate criterion. Although there
are no formal criteria to be met for entry into ERM II, successful participation will benefit from having
major policy adjustments - for example relating to fiscal consolidation and price liberalisation -
undertaken before joining the mechanism. Otherwise, significant pressures on the exchange rate may
arise which may jeopardise the convergence process. Having proceeded with the necessary structural
adjustments, participation in ERM II can be an important means of anchoring exchange rate and
inflation expectations and of promoting discipline. It can help orient macroeconomic policies to
stability, while at the same time allowing for a degree of flexibility if needed, through the standard
fluctuation band and the possibility of adjusting the central parity. This period can also be seen as a
realistic experience of the capacity of Member States to respect the requirements of the Monetary
Union, in which the exchange rate will no longer be available in order to adjust to changing economic
conditions.
Before adopting the euro, all convergence criteria, relating not only to exchange rate developments
but also to inflation, public deficit and debt, and long-term interest rates, as well as legal convergence,
will need to be achieved in a sustainable manner. Only when all the criteria are met on a sustainable
basis, will a country be eligible for adopting the euro. As it is an irreversible decision, joining the euro
area is a very important step requiring careful preparation. Every country will be assessed on its own
merits and its own particular situation. Whether this process will go swiftly or be more prolonged
depends largely on countries' starting position, remaining needs for structural change and integration,
and how successful they are in maintaining sound economic policies. While the criteria for sound and
sustainable macroeconomic policies are crucial for the well functioning of the Monetary Union, they
also make good economic sense for individual countries, both before and after joining the euro area.
Ultimately, I am convinced that EU and euro area enlargement will contribute positively to economic
growth and welfare in the whole EU.
Concluding remarks
Ladies and gentlemen, in conclusion, let me once again stress my firm belief that the Economic and
Monetary Union has seen a number of successes in a very short period of time: the introduction a new
currency for more than 300 million Europeans, the maintenance of price stability and low market
interest rates and the promotion of financial integration. These successes, which are indispensable
conditions for sustainable economic growth and employment, needs however to be complemented by
further progress in other parts of the economy. I am referring in particular to the implementation of
structural reform. In order to reap the full benefits of the EMU and to cope with the global competitive
pressures, a truly dynamic economic environment will need to be put firmly in place. These issues
have been identified and solutions have been drawn up, in particular in the Lisbon agenda. Now, the
challenge is to implement these commitments. In this endeavour, the new Member States of the EU
will undoubtedly make constructive contributions, benefiting from their recent experiences in
restructuring their economies to the EU framework.
To some extent, all changes and new challenges impose feelings of fear and hesitation - most likely
due to the simple fact that most human beings fear the unknown. We know what we got but we do not
know what we will get, and this inhibits our actions. Such hesitation is natural but the success of the
euro itself shows that a combination of insights, leadership, technical capacity and preparation can be
channelled into a general enthusiasm to succeed and to rise to the challenge. While the euro is still a
young currency, it draws on the cumulated wisdom of its legacy currencies. This combination of youth
and experience is unique.
Thank you for your attention.