José Luis Escrivá, Governor of the Banco de España, took part on 2 November 2026 in Barcelona the panel discussion “Bancos centrales: independencia, estabilidad y crecimiento” at the forum organised by World in Progress . The central bank confirmed his participation on its website. According to the organisers’ programme, Escrivá was joined in the discussion by the Governor of the Banque de France and a former Vice-President of the European Central Bank, to discuss the role of independent monetary policy amid weak growth and heightened uncertainty.
The forum thus focused on the institutional framework of central banks and their interaction with financial and economic policy. The organisers PRISA and World in Progress present the meeting as an exchange between politics, business and central banks on current risks to price stability, financial stability and competitiveness in Europe. No specific monetary policy decisions were on the agenda; the format centred on explaining objectives and instruments to the public.
What is established: The date, location and programme content are supported by the Banco de España’s statement and the organisers’ announcements. The sources document Escrivá’s participation and the panel’s subject matter. The reviewed evidence contains neither extracts nor a full transcript of the speeches. Accordingly, formulations circulating in the media cannot be verified without an official record.
The appearance underscores the position of European central banks: they emphasise independence as a prerequisite for credible action against inflation while closely monitoring the effects on the wider economy. After years of supply-chain disruptions, energy price shocks and rising financing costs, debate in Europe has focused on how to reconcile price stability with sustainable growth. In this context, central banks regularly point to the division of responsibilities: fiscal and structural policies create incentives for productivity and investment, while monetary policy secures price stability over the medium term.
Implications and limits: Forums of this kind provide guidance but do not replace decision-making bodies. The panel produced no immediate decisions on either interest rates or balance-sheet measures. Nevertheless, public signals from central bank leaders can shape expectations among policymakers and in financial markets. The documented core of this event remains Escrivá’s participation in the panel and its focus on independence, stability and growth.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).