Since the start of a more intensive debated about the possible merits and challenges of a new pan-European card scheme – or schemes – the number of supporters has increased. I would encourage the industry to compile the relevant numbers and to investigate the business case – better now than later. The Eurosystem is aware that a new pan-European scheme takes time to build.
Our central scenario remains for the economy to grow strongly over the next few years. The quarterly GDP outcomes in the near term are, however, going to be materially affected by the recent extreme weather events. These events significantly disrupted production in both the December and March quarters, especially in the coal industry.