In large part, these changes and innovations are unequivocally good for society and have produced more efficient markets and, in turn, greater international trade and economic growth. BIS Review 104/1997  They have also, however, greatly increased the complexity of banking and bank supervision. In both cases, these developments have spurred the demand for highly trained and qualified personnel.
Over the past six years, Eugenio Domingo Solans has ably steered the statisticians of the European System of Central Banks: both quietly and persistently, directly and indirectly - but always in the right direction. I am convinced that the ground has now been laid for further excellent work to complete the provision of euro area statistics in the future.