Euro Matters – the European Central Bank Podcast

European Central Bank

This is Euro Matters – the podcast where we unpack the stories, ideas and decisions shaping Europe’s economy. We bring you fresh perspectives from the people at the heart of it all – from economists and policymakers to researchers and innovators – and answer the questions that truly matter to you. Our hosts, Paul Gordon, Stefania Secola and Catherine Steer dive into the latest developments across the euro area, breaking down complex topics in a clear and accessible way. New episodes drop every first and third Tuesday of each month. Please note: the views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.

  1. Take control of your financial future: In Conversation with Christine Lagarde

    3 MAR

    Take control of your financial future: In Conversation with Christine Lagarde

    Our podcast has a new name – welcome to Euro Matters! In the first episode of our In Conversation series, President Christine Lagarde shares her own path to financial knowledge and explains why knowing about money matters – especially for women. Recorded on 17 February 2026 and published on 3 March 2026. In this episode: 01:10 – Why do financial topics make people feel uncomfortable? 02:15 – President Lagarde’s early experiences with managing finances 03:15 – Why is low financial knowledge a problem in Europe? And why does it matter for women in particular? 05:38 – How can women build confidence and take ownership of their finances? 06:40 – President Lagarde talks about the first time she realised that financial independence matters 07:50 – President Lagarde’s first jobs 08:55 – The best financial advice President Lagarde has ever received 09:52 – The financial advice President Lagarde would give to her younger self 10:25 – President Lagarde shares her hot tip ECB web page on the gender gap https://www.ecb.europa.eu/ecb-and-you/financial_literacy_europe/The-gender-gap-in-financial-literacy/html/index.en.html Financial literacy in Europe https://www.ecb.europa.eu/ecb-and-you/financial_literacy_europe/html/index.en.html ECB Instagram https://www.instagram.com/europeancentralbank/ EuroSteps Walking Challenge https://www.walk15.app/en/download

    12 min
  2. How safe is your bank? Risks, resilience and the road ahead

    17 FEB

    How safe is your bank? Risks, resilience and the road ahead

    How safe are our banks in the euro area? The world around us is changing – geopolitical tensions , AI and climate change can all pose risks to banks. So how can banks best manage their risks? What are supervisors focusing on in the coming year? And what measures are they taking to make supervision less complex? Our host Stefania Secola speaks to Supervisory Board Chair Claudia Buch to find out. The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank. Recorded on 4 February 2026 and published on 17 February 2026. In this episode: 00:57 How safe is your bank? How are euro area banks doing? How does the ECB – together with national supervisors – examine their health? 03:51 What risks should banks be focusing on? How is the external environment in which banks operate changing? How can risks from geopolitical uncertainty, digitalisation and climate change feed through to banks? 06:02 How is supervision evolving? In a changing external environment, we need new strategies to properly manage new risks. How is European supervision adapting to become more efficient, effective and risk-focused? 08:57 Why is supervision so complex? Modern banks are complex, operating across borders and with different business models. How can we reduce undue complexity in supervision? 10:54 Let’s talk about competitiveness Do regulation and supervision hinder the competitiveness of euro area banks? What does the banking sector need to do to stay competitive, and how can European banking supervision help? 13:02 Our guest’s hot tips Claudia Buch shares her hot tips. Streamlining supervision, safeguarding resilience: https://www.bankingsupervision.europa.eu/framework/approach/html/simplification.en.html Governing Council proposes simplification of EU banking rules: https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2025/html/ecb.pr251211~aa5c9271b8.en.html Banking supervision explained https://www.bankingsupervision.europa.eu/about/banking-supervision-explained/html/index.en.html Espresso Economics https://www.youtube.com/@Espresso_Economics ECB Instagram https://www.instagram.com/europeancentralbank/

    15 min
  3. President Lagarde presents the latest monetary policy decisions – 5 February 2026

    5 FEB

    President Lagarde presents the latest monetary policy decisions – 5 February 2026

    Today our Governing Council decided on monetary policy. Listen to President Christine Lagarde present today’s decisions. The statement also covers: • how the economy is performing • how we expect prices to develop • the risks to the economic outlook • the dynamics behind financial and monetary conditions Published and recorded during our press conference on 5 February 2026. Our monetary policy statement at a glance, 5 February 2026 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conference/visual-mps/2026/html/mopo_statement_explained_february.en.html Christine Lagarde, Luis de Guindos: Monetary policy statement, 5 February 2026 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conference/monetary-policy-statement/2026/html/ecb.is260205~50858cb986.en.html Monetary policy decisions, 5 February 2026 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2026/html/ecb.mp260205~001d26959b.en.html Combined monetary policy decisions and statement, 5 February 2026 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conference/monetary-policy-statement/shared/pdf/ecb.ds260205~0c74e825a7.en.pdf European Central Bank https://www.ecb.europa.eu/home/html/index.en.html

    14 min
  4. Spilling the beans on food inflation: what’s driving price changes?

    28 ENE

    Spilling the beans on food inflation: what’s driving price changes?

    How much do you spend on food every month? Food is one expense we simply can’t go without – we all need to eat, after all! But you may have noticed that your morning eggs, lunchtime sandwich, or favourite late-night snack is costing more than it used to. How have food prices changed over the past year? What’s driving the price increases? And what’s in store for our grocery bills in 2026? Our host Stefania Secola speaks to economists Elisabeth Wieland and Zivile Zekaite to answer these questions. The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank. Recorded on 20 January 2026 and published on 26 January 2026. In this episode: 02:23 Is food really getting more expensive? How do we track changes in food prices? How did food inflation develop in 2025? And what role does media coverage play? 05:39 Which foods are especially affected? Some prices are up, others are down. Why have items like coffee, cocoa and meat been hit the hardest? 08:26 Have some products also become cheaper? While meat and sweet treats have become more expensive, items like vegetables and butter have become cheaper. The overall food basket tells an interesting story and is influenced by its different components. 09:13 What’s driving price increases for certain products? Raw material costs, climate change, and supply and demand factors all affect food prices. Rising wages and energy costs also play a role. 12:35 Why do food prices matter so much? Food is a big part of our budget and cannot be replaced by other items. Also, since we go to the supermarket often, food prices play a big role in shaping our inflation expectations. 19:10 What can we do about rising food prices? Temporary vs structural changes – how do they differ? And what’s the ECB’s role when it comes to inflation and food prices? 20:52 What’s in store for our grocery bills in 2026? Good news: food inflation is set to ease in the coming year. So, what does this mean for your wallet? 22:06 Our guests’ hot tips Elisabeth and Zivile share their hot tips. Further reading: Inside the food basket: what is behind recent food inflation? (Economic Bulletin Issue 8, 2025) https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/economic-bulletin/focus/2026/html/ecb.ebbox202508_07~8e10bb606b.en.html Consumer Expectations Survey https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/ecb_surveys/consumer_exp_survey/html/index.en.html Elisabeth’s hot tip: use food price comparison websites and apps for tracking prices Zivile’s hot tip: look at the price per kilogram to find the best-value food ECB Instagram https://www.instagram.com/europeancentralbank/

    24 min
  5. Love at second sight? Hopes and fears when joining the euro area

    22/12/2025

    Love at second sight? Hopes and fears when joining the euro area

    The euro family is growing. Bulgaria is gearing up to adopt the euro. But what hopes and fears come with the transition? And were there similar feelings in other countries? To explore these questions, our podcast team spoke with content creators Mihaela, Elena and Stefan (also known as Chefo) to hear their perspectives on the transition. Meanwhile, in the podcast studio, our host Stefania Secola explored the topic with ECB researcher Ferdinand Dreher, who shed light on why public sentiment towards the euro tends to improve once people start using it in their everyday lives. The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank. Recorded on 11 and 16 December. Published on 22 December 2025. In this episode: 00:53 Looking back at Germany’s adoption of the euro Ferdinand shares his personal memories of Germany’s transition to the euro. 04:46 What are the biggest concerns around Bulgaria’s euro adoption? Concerns arise with every major change. We asked three Bulgarian content creators – Mihaela, Elena and Stefan (also known as Chefo) – about their biggest concerns regarding euro adoption. 08:00 What does the research show? What do surveys reveal about people’s concerns? What are the biggest concerns, and what are the initial inconveniences of the transition? 13:07 What are the biggest hopes around Bulgaria’s euro adoption? Alongside fears, there are also hopes. Mihaela, Elena and Stefan share their perspectives on the positive aspects of euro adoption. 15:55 How do people’s feelings evolve after adoption? Surveys show a significant shift in sentiment from the last survey before adoption to the first survey after adoption. What drives this change? Does clear communication play a key role? 20:13 What about Eurosceptics? Does Euroscepticism persist after adoption? 21:30 What about concerns around national identity? Do people feel that their national identity is under threat? Euro coins have a European side and a national side – does this help? Can European and national identities coexist? 23:53 Concerns are normal, but benefits will come What is the message for countries who may adopt the euro in the future? 25:26 Our guest’s hot tip Ferdinand shares his hot tip with listeners. Blog post by Ferdinand Dreher and Nils Hernborg “Love at second sight: support for the euro before and after adoption” https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/blog/date/2025/html/ecb.blog20251104~cf577c8f68.en.html Design of the euro coins – Bulgaria https://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/coins/html/bg.en.html Bulgaria on the doorstep of the euro area https://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/changeover/bulgaria/html/index.en.html ECB Instagram https://www.instagram.com/europeancentralbank/

    29 min
  6. President Lagarde presents the latest monetary policy decisions – 18 December 2025

    18/12/2025

    President Lagarde presents the latest monetary policy decisions – 18 December 2025

    Today our Governing Council decided on monetary policy. Listen to President Christine Lagarde present today’s decisions. The statement also covers: • how the economy is performing • how we expect prices to develop • the risks to the economic outlook • the dynamics behind financial and monetary conditions Published and recorded during our press conference on 18 December 2025. Our monetary policy statement at a glance, 18 December 2025 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conference/visual-mps/2025/html/mopo_statement_explained_december.en.html Christine Lagarde, Luis de Guindos: Monetary policy statement, 18 December 2025 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conference/monetary-policy-statement/2025/html/ecb.is251218~3a10402adb.en.html Monetary policy decisions, 18 December 2025 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2025/html/ecb.mp251218~58b0e415a6.en.html Combined monetary policy decisions and statement, 18 December 2025 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conference/monetary-policy-statement/shared/pdf/ecb.ds251218~f264376788.en.pdf Macroeconomic projections, 18 December 2025 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/projections/html/index.en.html European Central Bank https://www.ecb.europa.eu/home/html/index.en.html

    15 min
  7. The rise of AI, stablecoins and private markets: how stable is the financial system?

    27/11/2025

    The rise of AI, stablecoins and private markets: how stable is the financial system?

    When it comes to the risks to financial stability, things seem to have settled down a bit. But with trade tensions, an unpredictable US economic policy, geopolitical issues, a potential AI bubble and the rise of stablecoins, there is plenty to keep an eye on. Has the global environment really become less uncertain? And how do all these factors impact financial stability? To explore these questions and more, our host Paul Gordon speaks with financial stability expert John Fell. The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank. Recorded on 24 November 2025 and published on 27 November 2025. In this episode: 01:25 How stable is the financial system? The EU and the United States reached a trade agreement, and the economic impact of trade uncertainty has been milder than expected. But the full effects of the policy changes are yet to be seen. So, what does this mean for financial stability? 04:14 Is there an AI bubble? The term “AI bubble” is on everyone’s lips right now . But bubbles are hard to identify and even harder to differentiate from legitimate growth. So, are valuations stretched? What about market concentration and circular funding in the AI industry? And how exactly are companies funding investment in AI? 06:15 If there is a bubble, what could cause it to burst? There is significant leverage behind AI investments. Returns will largely depend on how widely AI is adopted. Could AI become a general-purpose technology, like the railways did? 08:15 What about the rise of private credit? How do private credit markets differ from equity financing? Why are risks to euro area financial stability increasing as private markets expand? And how does all this relate to systemic risk in the banking sector and the build-up of AI infrastructure? 11:23 Are stablecoins really stable? Despite what the name suggests, stablecoins carry liquidity run risks that could affect financial stability. With rapid growth and increasing links to traditional finance, what risks does this innovation create? 15:11 What’s the situation for government financing? Governments have made progress in reducing debt levels since the pandemic. But in some euro area countries, debt remains too high and pressures to increase spending – for instance on defence – are rising. While this poses one of the biggest risks to financial stability, it could also be an opportunity for long-term growth if properly managed. 18:07 What about banks? Given the potential AI bubble, questions around the sustainability of government budgets and the rise in stablecoins, where does this leave euro area banks? Profitability is strong and non-performing loan ratios are historically low. So, how is the banking sector doing overall? 20:13 Our guest’s hot tip John Fell shares his hot tip with listeners. Financial Stability Review at a glance https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/financial-stability-publications/fsr/html/index.en.html Financial Stability Review, November 2025 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/financial-stability-publications/fsr/html/ecb.fsr202511~263b5810d4.en.html Chip War, Chris Miller https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Chip-War-Worlds-Critical-Technology/dp/1982172002

    22 min
  8. Like cash, but digital: the facts behind the digital euro

    14/11/2025

    Like cash, but digital: the facts behind the digital euro

    Our payment habits are changing. With digital payments on the rise, we need to preserve people’s freedom to choose how to pay: there’s cash, card, online transfers – and soon, we could have a digital euro. But what is the digital euro, and how will it work? Will it replace cash? Concerns about data security and government control have sparked debate around the digital euro, often fuelled by disinformation. We separate fact from fiction as our host Stefania Secola teams up with Aidas Palubinskas from EU Finance Podcast to speak to Executive Board member Piero Cipollone about modernising our money. The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank. Recorded on 4 November 2025 and published on 13 November 2025. In this episode: 02:18 The digital what? What is the digital euro, and how will it work in practice? Don’t we already pay digitally? 13:48 What will happen to cash? Would introducing the digital euro mean the end of cash? And could it take away business from banks and other financial service providers? 16:25 How secure would the digital euro be really? What about hackers? Will our money be safe, and will the digital euro affect the integrity of the payments system? 19:31 Did someone say Big Brother? Will central banks, governments and other authorities have access to our data ? How private will our payments really be? 24:52 When will we have a digital euro? Where are we in the process and what are the next steps? How are EU institutions like the European Commission and the European Parliament involved in the digital euro project? 29:17 Our guests’ hot tips Piero Cipollone shares his hot tip. EU Finance Podcast – the future of finance https://finance.ec.europa.eu/eu-finance-podcast-future-finance_en Digital euro https://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/digital_euro/html/index.en.html President Lagarde explains the next digital euro phase https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQd60z9jfjV/?igsh=MTV2OW4zNXp5cHJvNA== The ECB Podcast: The digital euro, demystified https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/tvservices/podcast/html/ecb.pod231024_episode71.en.html Press release: Eurosystem moving to next phase of digital euro project, 30 October 2025 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2025/html/ecb.pr251030~8c5b5beef0.en.html The ECB Blog: Making euro cash fit for the future https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/blog/date/2025/html/ecb.blog20250804~9d3993abe0.en.html Fit of the digital euro in the payment ecosystem https://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/digital_euro/timeline/profuse/shared/pdf/ecb.deprep251030_digital_euro_fit_payment_ecosystem_report.en.pdf

    31 min
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Información

This is Euro Matters – the podcast where we unpack the stories, ideas and decisions shaping Europe’s economy. We bring you fresh perspectives from the people at the heart of it all – from economists and policymakers to researchers and innovators – and answer the questions that truly matter to you. Our hosts, Paul Gordon, Stefania Secola and Catherine Steer dive into the latest developments across the euro area, breaking down complex topics in a clear and accessible way. New episodes drop every first and third Tuesday of each month. Please note: the views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.

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