I would like to take this opportunity to:   provide you with an insight into our current of the current economic situation;    explain how the single currency has contributed towards the management of the financial market crisis;    offer you an overview of the financial market reforms in the European Union;    outline what is still to be done to guarantee the stability of the euro over the longterm horizon.
Assessment of the economic situation of the euro area Allow me to first explain the ECB’s current assessment of the economic outlook from a monetary policy perspective. As regards the economic situation of the euro area, there are a  BIS central bankers’ speeches  1  number of positive signals. The economy is following an upward trajectory (show chart).