It is a pleasure to be here again for our second regular hearing this year and my first in Brussels since the start of the pandemic two years ago. The economic and geopolitical landscape facing Europe has changed dramatically following the unjustified aggression by Russia towards Ukraine. Over the past few weeks and months, Europe – thanks also to the work of this Parliament – has responded forcefully by imposing sanctions and implementing measures to reduce its dependence on Russia and to cushion the economic impact of the war. Over the same period, the conditions facing monetary policy have changed markedly. At our ... (full story)