Statement of Aurore Lalucq on Christine Lagarde’s intention to step down from the ECB

Aurore Lalucq, the Chair of the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs committee, has reacted to Christine Lagarde's announcement to step down from the European Central Bank.

Ms Lalucq said, “I salute Christine Lagarde, an outstanding President who has adapted the European Central Bank (ECB) to the realities of the modern world – notably by addressing the climate imperative and strengthening the European Union’s sovereignty through the digital euro. She has also navigated multiple crises with calm and strength in an increasingly volatile world.

From the Covid-19 pandemic to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and amidst a rise in geopolitical tensions, Ms Lagarde’s tenure has been defined by a succession of major crises — all of which she faced with calm and strength.

Beyond her crisis management, I also wish to highlight the strategic priorities she championed throughout her mandate, most notably the integration of climate-related risks into the financial and operational risk frameworks. Ms Lagarde is also to be commended for her steadfast commitment to European monetary sovereignty, as evidenced by the digital euro project, an initiative she pursued with determination throughout her term. Last but not least, as first female ECB President, Ms Lagarde has been instrumental in helping bridge the gender-balance gap in the central banking and financial worlds.

I would like to underscore the high quality of the dialogue Ms Lagarde has maintained with the Economic and Monetary Affairs committee. She has always been an attentive and accessible partner who held the European Parliament in high regard — someone with whom we were able to engage in a constructive and rigorous working relationship. This has culminated in a formalised institutional cooperation framework between the two institutions and greater accountability of the ECB.

For all of this, I offer her my sincere gratitude and pay tribute to Ms Lagarde’s dedication to Europe and its citizens. It has been both an honour and a pleasure to work alongside her during these troubled, difficult, and demanding times.”