The European Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, has welcomed new moves by the European Central Bank (ECB) towards ensuring that the public interest is better protected when members of the ECB Executive Board agree to external speaking engagements. She looks forward to further useful engagement on this, and on other transparency and ethical issues.

Today's ECB publication of new speaking engagement guidelines follows the Ombudsman's request to the ECB to clarify the circumstances surrounding a speech delivered by a member of the ECB Executive Board on 18 May 2015 in London. Potentially market sensitive i