Luis M Linde: The European economy and monetary policy

Inauguration by Mr Luis M Linde, Governor of the Bank of Spain, of La Granda courses, Madrid, 31 July 2017.

The views expressed in this speech are those of the speaker and not the view of the BIS.

Mr Chairman of the La Granda courses, Mr Rector of the University of Oviedo, Mr Mayor of Gozón, Mr Secretary of the La Granda Courses, Authorities, dear colleagues:

Let me begin by thanking Professor Velarde for his invitation to me to participate in the inauguration of the thirty-ninth edition of the now-classic La Granda courses.

But first I should like to congratulate Professor Velarde on the Menéndez Pelayo International Prize he has recently received and which is just one in a long list of accolades. Juan Velarde is much more than an eminent academic. He is a true humanist whose work, anchored in different areas of the economy, has always included historical and social concerns where his deep-seated and - I would say - benign liberalism prevails. Professor, my warmest congratulations on your Menéndez Pelayo prize.