Italy’s finance minister talks to The Banker about his government’s disagreements with Europe and advancing Italian involvement in China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Petra Hielkema, director of payments and market infrastructures at the Dutch central bank, talks to Joy Macknight about experimenting with blockchain, supporting fintechs and raising consumer awareness around the Payment Services Directive 2.

Turkey's economy has fallen into recession, inflation rates are high and concerns are being raised about the president's approach. The Banker assesses the options the country has.

With Turkey's economy in a downturn, the interventionist Erdogan government is keen for state and private banks to provide cheaper credit. 

UniCredit's restructuring programme has paid off, enabling the Italian bank to return to the market with a handful of regulatory capital deals.

The Banker reviews Europe's best deals of the past year.

While Belgium's economy is thriving, supporting its complex regional make-up has driven up debt levels. To this end, the country's debt agency recently launched two long bonds.

Ireland's banks are on the comeback trail, slashing NPL ratios. However, the continued state ownership in the country's three largest banks clouds the picture.