Banque de France Governor delivers New Year address, highlights roles
The Governor of the Banque de France delivered a New Year address on January 12, 2026, emphasizing the central bank's role as an engaged and innovative institution with strong governance.
Defining an engaged central bank
The Banque de France positions itself as an engaged and innovative central bank, underpinned by strong and transparent governance.
Its core responsibilities encompass the formulation and execution of monetary strategy, maintaining an effective operational framework, and overseeing financial markets and means of payment.
A central pillar of its mission is ensuring financial stability, a mandate it pursues through a robust institutional framework and various publications and research initiatives.
The institution emphasizes its commitment to economic education and its regional presence across France, serving a diverse range of stakeholders from individuals to companies and other central banks.
This comprehensive approach reflects its historical roots while adapting to modern economic challenges.
Beyond core policy: research and outreach
Beyond its core policy functions, the Banque de France actively contributes to economic discourse through extensive publications and research.
It provides detailed economic research and comprehensive statistics, including various thematic series.
The central bank also fosters public engagement through news and events, including podcasts and consultative committees such as the CCSF and CCLRF.
Educational outreach is a key focus, exemplified by specialized seminars on topics like anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing, open to students and professionals.
Furthermore, the BDF maintains partnerships, such as with Sciences Po, to promote economic understanding and expertise.
Reaffirming broad mandates
The document, presented as a New Year address, primarily functions as a broad overview of the Banque de France's extensive and established mandates.
It reiterates the institution's commitment to monetary policy, financial stability, and public engagement without offering new policy signals.
Its value lies in reaffirming the BDF's foundational identity rather than providing fresh strategic insights.