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History of European integration. 1950 - European Payments Union 1951 - European Coal and Steel Community 1957 - Treaty of Rome 1970s & 1980s - Expansion of EU 1986 - Single European Act 1992 - Maastricht Treaty 1999 - EMU. Political -Council of Ministers as decision making body
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History of European integration • 1950 - European Payments Union • 1951 - European Coal and Steel Community • 1957 - Treaty of Rome • 1970s & 1980s - Expansion of EU • 1986 - Single European Act • 1992 - Maastricht Treaty • 1999 - EMU
Political -Council of Ministers as decision making body -European law -European Parliament (directly elected since 1979) Economic -Eliminate internal customs duties and quotas -Common external trade policy -Creation of single market Two dimensions
EMU: What happened? • January 1, 1999 (Stage IIIA) • Formal launch of euro • ECB takes over monetary policy • January 1, 2002 (Stage IIIB) • Introduction of euro notes & coins
EMU • Profound change in international monetary relations • Between the countries of Europe • Between Europe and the rest of the world • Model for what we will see in the 21st century?
Why does it matter for Europe? • Fundamental change in monetary policy • ECB independent • Mandate for price stability • Significance of currency as symbol of sovereignty • Move towards “super state”
Institutions Council of Ministers European Commission European Parliament European Central Bank
Policy making institutions 6 Executive Board Members of the ECB Governing Council of the ECB 12 National Central Bank Governors Monetary policy for euro area
Strategy & accountability • Twin pillars of ECB monetary policy strategy • Broad based assessment of outlook for price stability • Reference value for money growth • Quantitative definition of price stability • 2% inflation or less
Three facets of EMU • Creation of European “super state” • Deepening and strengthening the single market • Monetary stability through new institutions
Why does it matter for the US? • Europe is our most important trading partner • Europe is the most important source of investment in the US • The euro as a competitor with the dollar
The euro as a competitor with the dollar • US dollar dominant in international transactions • size and global reach of US • stability of purchasing power • Benefit to US: seigniorage revenue • Challenge from high-denomination euro notes?
A model for the future? • National central banks an expensive luxury? • The debate over dollarization • Monetary union as an alternative?
Dollar-euro exchange rate $ per Launch of EMU $ per ECU prior to 1999
EU expansion Other EU Candidate countries Euro area Candidate countries not shown: Malta and Cyprus
Will the euro displace the dollar? • Dollar currently the primary international currency • Euro has potential to match and even displace the dollar • But...
Will the euro displace the dollar? • Difficult to dislodge established currency • Thirty years for dollar to displace sterling • Would it matter?