"What does the euro mean to you and the citizens of Europe? And what is the future for our single currency?" These were the questions discussed by Jens Weidmann, President of the Deutsche Bundesbank, and Klaas Knot, President of De Nederlandsche Bank, along with some 60 students at the 2016 Frankfurt Book Fair. In a lively and enthusiastic discussion, both central bank presidents laid out their stances on key issues concerning the monetary union.

© Bert Bostelmann

Among those taking part were mainly students from European countries currently studying at a German university on an Erasmus programme scholarship. Students from China, Russia and Australia also participated in the discussion, however.

Klaas Knot’s visit was occasioned by the Netherlands and Flanders being this year’s Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair. Before the discussion, Mr Knot and Mr Weidmann visited the Bundesbank’s stand at the Book Fair.

The Bundesbank’ stand (Hall 3.1, Stand 49), will be open to Book Fair visitors until 23 October. Here they can obtain information on the Bundesbank’s extensive range of publications dealing with the Bundesbank’s many tasks and functions or materials on economic education. Visitors can also catch a first glimpse of the new €50 Europa series banknote that will be introduced into circulation in April 2017.