Sintra, Portugal, June 29, 2026 (Lusa) - The European Central Bank’s (ECB) annual forum begins in Sintra on Monday, with all eyes on the future of Europe amid uncertainty over trade policy and the conflict in the Middle East.
This forum is an annual event organised by the ECB and held in Sintra, Portugal, that brings together central bank governors, academics, and representatives of the financial markets.
This year’s theme is “Shaping the future of Europe: innovation, growth and stability”, and the forum gets underway today with an opening address by Christine Lagarde, President of the ECB, at 8.00 pm (Lisbon time).
The discussion will cover topics related to international trade, following the announcement of tariffs by US President Donald Trump, which has led to a change in the economic landscape, as well as at a time of continuing uncertainty regarding the unfolding conflict in the Middle East, which has affected energy prices and led the ECB to raise interest rates by 25 basis points at its June meeting.
The morning of the forum’s second day features two sessions: the first on accelerating growth in Europe, and the second on regulatory cycles, risks to stability and opportunities for growth.
This is followed by a panel on artificial intelligence (AI) and financial stability, featuring representatives from the IMF, the Bank of England, the University of Pennsylvania and Apollo Global Management, as well as a discussion on AI between OpenAI’s chief economist, Aaron Chatterji, and ECB Executive Board member Philip R. Lane.
The third and final day, 1 July, begins with a session on the implications of migration for productivity and growth in Europe, analysing a paper on the subject, followed by a session on ‘tokenisation’, focusing on digital payments.
There will also be a panel on Europe’s role in the new global landscape of international trade, featuring representatives from the Inter-American Development Bank, the OECD, the University of Zurich and the European Commission.
After lunch comes the usual ‘highlight’ of the event: a panel on monetary policy featuring central bank governors – Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England; Christine Lagarde; Tiff Macklem, Governor of the Bank of Canada; and Kevin Warsh, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the US Federal Reserve System, who took up his post in May.
The ECB Forum concludes with the Young Economist Award ceremony and Lagarde’s closing address.
On that day, there will also be a dinner for participants organised by the Bank of Portugal; this marks the first time the forum has taken place under the leadership of Governor Álvaro Santos Pereira, who took office in October last year.
ALN/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
