Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann has called for further reform steps in Europe. "Much has been done – in the member states as well as at the European level," Weidmann said in Athens. Despite this progress, there is still need for further action, he said.

According to Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann, banks need to take adequate account of climate-related financial risks in their risk management. “If financing environmentally harmful projects were to become less attractive as a result, that would be a welcome side effect,” he said in a speech.

Dr Jens Weidmann, President of the Deutsche Bundesbank, Speech at the American Council on Germany

The Bundesbank believes that there is some scope for lowering the contribution rate to the unemployment insurance scheme. It notably proposes using taxpayers' money to finance the Federal Employment Agency's non-insurance-related benefits in future. By contrast, the Bundesbank's economists, writing in the latest Monthly Report, take a sceptical view of suggestions to introduce a European unemployment insurance scheme.

ECB Executive Board member Sabine Lautenschläger says that banks in Europe would be put through their paces. "I think it's hugely important for our stress test to be tough," she commented on the second day of the Bundesbank's symposium. This year was an opportunity to straighten things up, she added.

Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann is critical of the ECB Governing Council's recent decision to purchase government bonds. He does not consider such a programme necessary at present, and sees a risk that the purchases might reduce the pressure on crisis countries to reform. He said that the specific structure would mitigate at least some of the problems that government bond purchases entail.