Speech by Christine Lagarde, President of the ECB, at “Deutscher Sparkassentag 2023”, Hanover

Frankfurt am Main, 1 June 2023

Hanover is a city of great significance.

Ludwig Erhard once described it as the emblem of German ambition and vitality. And, over the years, Hanover has been justifiably proud of its role in Germany’s industrial development.

Nowhere is this more obvious than at the Hannover Messe.

Since inception in 1947, Hannover Messe has showcased the passion and economic potential of German workers and entrepreneurs to the world. The fair has become a symbol of the German Wirtschaftswunder, intimately linked to post-war German reconstruction and the subsequent economic and industrial success.

Success in which the German savings banks have played a pivotal role.

With a history spanning 200 years, you have consistently served as a reliable financial partner, supporting and promoting the German industry through crises and transformation. It is no wonder that around three…