ECB Optimism Masks Underlying Strains Martin Kocher's recent comments about Europe's economy gaining momentum might be seen as a surprise to those who've been following the region's economic woes over the past few years.
As a Governing Council member of the European Central Bank, Kocher's words carry weight, but they also raise questions about what exactly he means by "momentum" and whether it's enough to offset structural issues plaguing Europe's economy.
While the European economy has indeed been growing at a slow pace, this growth is largely driven by major economies such as Germany and France.