I would only like to refer to Jean-Claude Trichet, Otmar Issing, Eddy George or David Dodge, colleagues or former colleagues within the Eurosystem or the G10 Governors’ Group. I hope my presentation will be as interesting as that of my colleagues I have the greatest admiration for.
The European economy is facing many challenges: consolidating the current recovery, redressing public finances which have deteriorated in many countries, reducing unemployment which is still too high and preserving the social cohesion, preparing for the ageing process and in particular its financial consequences, but I think one of them is now the most important: improving Europe’s growth potential.