Finance
ECB's Lagarde to raise reform pressure on EU leaders with checklist
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 5, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 5, 2026
Quick Summary
Christine Lagarde presents a reform checklist to EU leaders to boost growth and competitiveness, focusing on digital euro and single market.
Lagarde to Present Reform Checklist to EU Leaders for Growth Boost
Reform Measures for EU Competitiveness
FRANKFURT, Feb 5 (Reuters) - European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde will present EU leaders next week with a checklist of measures needed to enhance growth and competitiveness, taking an unusual step to raise pressure on governments to speed up a slow and often timid reform process.
Key Components of the Checklist
European leaders have long debated a host of steps from more integration to better regulation but even U.S. tariffs and war on the bloc's eastern border have failed to meaningfully speed up the process.
Importance of Accelerated Reforms
While the ECB has long outlined what needed to be done, overlapping with the conclusion of former ECB chief and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi's own report, Lagarde upped the ante on Thursday, after previously saying the bank's calls are often shrugged off as it's "still the same thing".
"What we decided to do, in anticipation of that meeting on the 12th of February, is to actually give our checklist to the leaders," Lagarde told a news conference after the ECB's policy meeting.
"This is our checklist of what we regard as very much likely to enhance growth, to improve productivity, and to really unleash the talent of Europe," she said.
EU leaders are due to meet next week at an informal retreat, focusing on strengthening the single market in a new 'geoeconomic context'.
To be sent to all EU leaders, the list will contain items on the savings and investment union, as well as the digital euro and the tokenised wholesale central bank money, Lagarde said.
It will also include tasks on deepening the single market, fostering innovation, simplifying legislation and strengthening the core institutional framework.
"We cannot deliver it all," Lagarde said. "But we strongly feel that significant reforms have to be either deepened or accelerated in order to deliver on what is the potential of Europe."
(Reporting by Balazs Koranyi; Editing by Susan Fenton)
Key Takeaways
- •Christine Lagarde presents a reform checklist to EU leaders.
- •The checklist aims to boost EU growth and competitiveness.
- •Focus areas include digital euro and single market deepening.
- •Lagarde emphasizes the need for accelerated reforms.
- •EU leaders to discuss at an informal retreat next week.
Frequently Asked Questions about ECB's Lagarde to raise reform pressure on EU leaders with checklist
1What is the European Central Bank?
The European Central Bank (ECB) is the central bank for the eurozone, responsible for monetary policy and maintaining price stability in the euro area.
2What is economic growth?
Economic growth refers to the increase in the production of goods and services in an economy over a period of time, typically measured by GDP.
3What is a reform agenda?
A reform agenda is a plan or set of proposed changes aimed at improving a system, often involving policy changes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
4What is financial stability?
Financial stability is a condition in which the financial system operates effectively, with institutions able to manage risks and absorb shocks without significant disruptions.
5What is investment?
Investment involves allocating resources, usually money, to generate income or profit, often through purchasing assets like stocks, bonds, or real estate.
