such as deafness. the need to devote special attention to diverse perspectives goes beyond ensuring a workplace free from any form of direct or indirect discrimination. it entails reflecting the diversity of the societies we serve. a better understanding of the various needs and experiences in our society helps us to design better and more inclusive policies. in our work on a digital euro, we are seeking to develop a digital means of payment that leaves no one behind. * * * allow me to conclude by reiterating that thorough accountability – as illustrated by your monetary dialogue with madame lagarde and the regular exchanges you had with mr 4 / 5 bis - central bankers'speeches panetta on the digital euro – strengthens both the ecb's legitimacy and the efficacy of its policies. should i be appointed as an executive board member, i would always be willing to engage in dialogue with this honourable committee. this commitment to regular reporting is consistent with the bank of italy's tradition : this year, for instance, i have addressed the italian parliament on several occasions. it would be a privilege for me to join the ecb's executive board, to contribute my experience and commitment to the ecb's mission. it would be an honour to receive your support and serve the citizens of europe that you represent. thank you for your attention. i look forward to your questions. 5 / 5 bis - central bankers'speeches

piero cipollone : opening statement - economic and monetary affairs committee of the european parliament opening statement by mr piero cipollone, member of the executive board of the european central bank, to the economic and monetary affairs committee of the european parliament, strasbourg, 9 october 2023. * * * madam chair, honourable members of the european parliament, it is an honour to appear before you today. i am grateful and humbled to have been nominated to serve as a member of the ecb's executive board. the european parliament plays a key role in ensuring the ecb's accountability. i therefore regard it as being of the utmost importance to appear before the representatives of eu citizens, as part of my appointment process. i would like to take this opportunity to outline my personal qualifications and discuss with you what i see as the guiding principles for the ecb to best deliver on its mandate and address the challenges ahead. * * * i have been a central banker for most of my career, from my arrival at the bank of italy as an economist in 1993 to my appointment as deputy governor in 2020. i have taken part in the bank of italy's policy and research activities, experiencing the many facets of central banking. throughout my career, i have also witnessed the immense value in cultivating strong relationships with european and international counterparts. i have been a member of eurosystem bodies since the early days of the single currency and i still am, including in relation to the digital euro project. i have also participated in european and international fora. i took part in the g7 and g20 meetings on behalf of the italian government and i served as an executive director at the world bank. i am currently a member of the eu's economic and financial committee and of the oecd and bis committees. * * * as a member of the ecb's executive board, my commitment would be to serve europe by ensuring that the ecb fulfils its primary objective. maintaining price stability is the best contribution that monetary policy can make to sustainable growth, job creation, economic welfare and an inclusive and cohesive society. at present, rising prices are the main concern for europeans. 1 / 5 bis - central bankers'speeches history has taught us the high costs of entrenched inflation : loss of economic output and reduced employment and purchasing power, with disproportionate effects on those with lower incomes. to me this is more than mere theory. i vivid