(…) Since 1999, when the ECB took up its mandate, about 400 ECB watchers from all over Europe, North America and Asia regularly come to the conference to get first-hand information and to debate with members of the ECB Governing Council, presidents from euro area central banks as well as representatives of international organizations and renowned researchers. Thus, the conference series has become an established event in the agenda of many participants.

The conference The ECB and Its Watchers XXII on March 17th gave the opportunity to gain new insights on current challenges in inflation, the impact of climate change on monetary policy, and monetary and fiscal interactions.

ECB President Christine Lagarde gave the address and panelists, among them Philip Lane (European Central Bank), Stephanie Schmitt-Grohé (Columbia University), Ricardo Reis (London School of Economics), Isabel Schnabel (European Central Bank), Monika Piazzesi (Stanford University), Hans Peter Grüner (University of Mannheim), Ignazio Visco (Banca d'Italia), Philippe Martin (Sciences Po), and Harris Dellas (University of Bern), and lead questioners followed with their contributions.

Professor Thomas M.J. Möllers, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation Money and Currency (Stiftung Geld und Währung), which among other things financially supports the conference, took on a lead question in debate 2 "Monetary Policy and Climate Change". In view of the recent developments of the war in Ukraine, the question was whether the ECB should not rather focus on ensuring sustainable price stability in the sense of Art. 282 (2) sentence 2 TFEU than on supporting the climate goals of the European Union.

A conference summary as well as videos and photos of all panels are available on the ECB and Its Watchers’  website.