Sawt Falasteen - Europe increasingly 'vulnerable' to shocks: ECB chief

The continent must urgently speed up its integration and overhaul a model of export-led growth that has faltered amid mounting geopolitical turmoil, she said in a speech to a banking conference.

"Europe has become more vulnerable," the head of the central bank for the 20-nation eurozone said in Frankfurt, pointing to the region's "dependency on third countries for our security and the supply of critical raw materials".

"Global shocks have intensified, with rising US tariffs, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and stiffening competition from China," she added.

Europe's domestic market meanwhile had "stood still," particularly in areas set to underpin future growth like the digital sector and artificial intelligence, Lagarde said.

The continent had long relied on exports of goods ranging from cars to factory equipment and pharmaceuticals to support its economies.

But this model was no longer working, said Lagarde, saying the European Union needed to strengthen its domestic economy as "a source of resilience in an uncertain world".

Faced with weak demand for key exports, structural problems and more recently the US tariff blitz, Europe's growth has been muted in recent years, lagging far behind the United States and China.

Lagarde outlined reforms to boost the region, ranging from better integrating the financial sector to lowering trade barriers and simplifying EU decision making processes.

She warned that more years of "lost growth, lost productivity, would not just be disappointing for future generations, it would be irresponsible on our part".

If radical reforms are enacted, "we can actually make sure that Europe is strong and is not the victim of decisions being made outside of this region," Lagarde said.

W.AbuLaban--SF-PST