It is against this background that the ECB strongly supports the Commission’s policy of pushing forward the Lisbon strategy by focusing reform efforts, at the national level and the European level, on “delivering stronger, lasting growth, and creating more and better jobs”.
The sudden and significant rise in uncertainty caused by the terrorist attacks on the United States was not accompanied by the tensions on the foreign exchange markets that we had become accustomed to seeing in the past. Apart form the macroeconomic benefits, however, the upcoming introduction of the euro banknotes and coins will ensure full transparency of prices, enhance consumer awareness and increase competition.