Documents by topic : Economic and monetary affairs

Microcredit loans to help small businesses and people who want to be self employed have been backed by Members of the Employment Committee. Although pioneered in the developing world, Members are convinced that microcredits can create jobs and boost enterprise in Europe. In particular they could help people who are unable to access conventional credit, especially at a time of economic crisis.

The European Parliament is about to set up a special committee to examine ways to avoid a future economic crisis. Ahead of the vote approving the committee, its future chair, Wolf Klinz, a German member of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, explained the committee's aims and how it plans to tackle the financial crisis.

VAT cuts for things like household repairs, care services, audio books and beauty treatments are likely to be backed by MEPs on Thursday. It comes in a debate on European Commission plans to increase the range of goods and services that can use reduced VAT rates. A report on the issue by Dutch Socialist MEP Ieke van den Burg has already backed the idea although Parliament's views are advisory and European finance Ministers will have the final word.

As the euro celebrates its first decade in the midst of the economic crisis sweeping across Europe, a roundtable of journalists, financial experts, present and ex-MEPs debated the challenges the single currency has weathered and those still to come.

It's been a year of upheaval in the finance sector. There was an unprecedented slide in world economies and terms such as "credit crunch" and "global recession" became more and more commonplace in our daily lives. Read our articles where MEPs consider just how serious things are, what to do next and more importantly, how much safety the EU can offer?

Fake Euro coins are becoming more and more common in Europe with an estimated 10 million in circulation, many in the form of tokens and medals. MEP Eoin Ryan of the UEN group has compiled a report calling for stricter legislation over the use of illegal currency.

The financial crisis has become a major threat to the economies, jobs and lives of millions worldwide. This weekend in Washington arguably the 20 most important countries in the world will meet to try and come up with a response. We asked leading MEPs on the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee what the world should do.

Turmoil in the financial markets and the rising costs of fuel and food are dominating the international headlines and creating fear in the international economy. Against this background is the strength of the euro on the international exchanges. We spoke to some MEPs from countries both with and without the euro - and asked them if the strength of the currency was helping or hurting their economies. We also asked them whether other countries - who have opted out of the euro - should now join.

Leading MEPs on the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee have given a gloomy prediction of the state of the financial markets. "After 10 long months, we see no end to the crisis...it is spreading beyond the financial sector," was how Committee Chair Pervenche Berès described the situation. We spoke to two MEPs on the committee - Dutch Socialist Ieke van den Burg and Lithuanian Liberal Margarita Starkevičiūtė. Closer supervision and control of banks are just two steps they propose.