Euro Matters – the European Central Bank Podcast

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 19 March 2026. Our monetary policy statement at a glance, 19 March 2026 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conference/visual-mps/2026/html/mopo_statement_explained_march.en.html Christine Lagarde, Luis de Guindos: Monetary policy statement, 19 March 2026 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conference/monetary-policy-statement/2026/html/ecb.is260319~93b1cbad97.en.html Monetary policy decisions, 19 March 2026 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2026/html/ecb.mp260319~3057739775.en.html Combined monetary policy decisions and statement, 19 March 2026 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conference/monetary-policy-statement/shared/pdf/ecb.ds260319~30247d385d.en.pdf Macroeconomic projections, 19 March 2026 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/projections/html/ecb.projections202603_eurosystemstaff~da4f97a747.en.html European Central Bank https://www.ecb.europa.eu/home/html/index.en.html

Are we really watching cash disappear, or is that just what people on TikTok say? In this episode of What the Euro?!, our host Catherine digs into the real story behind cash. To find out everything you need to know, she speaks to experts about how we’re using it, why it matters, why it’ll stay and what’s changing with new banknote designs and the digital euro. The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.

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

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/