To mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the ECB held a ceremony on Tuesday, 27 January 2026 at the Grossmarkthalle Jewish memorial. Each year, the European Central Bank honours the victims of the Holocaust, including those who were deported from Frankfurt’s Grossmarkthalle.
This year’s commemorative event included a conversation between ECB President Christine Lagarde and designer and philanthropist Diane von Fürstenberg, whose parents survived the Holocaust. Mrs von Fürstenberg spoke about her family’s story and offered reflections on intergenerational trauma and resilience.
The ceremony also featured speeches by:
• Christine Lagarde, ECB President
• Ina Hartwig, Frankfurt City Councilor for Culture and Science
• Mirjam Wenzel, Director of the Jewish Museum Frankfurt
• Uwe Becker, Hessian State Commissioner for Jewish Life and the Fight against Antisemitism
You cand find all the photos from the event here: https://multimedia.ecb.europa.eu/web/292e9d29ff63182b/ecb-holocaust-remembrance-day-2026/
Food is one expense we simply can’t go without – we all need to eat, after all! But you may have noticed that your morning eggs, lunchtime sandwich, or favourite late-night snack is costing more than it used to.
How have food prices changed over the past year? What’s driving the price increases? And what’s in store for our grocery bills in 2026?
Our host Stefania Secola speaks to economists Elisabeth Wieland and Zivile Zekaite to answer these questions.
The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.
Recorded on 20 January 2026 and published on 26 January 2026.
In this episode:
02:23 Is food really getting more expensive?
How do we track changes in food prices? How did food inflation develop in 2025? And what role does media coverage play?
05:39 Which foods are especially affected?
Some prices are up, others are down. Why have items like coffee, cocoa and meat been hit the hardest?
08:26 Have some products also become cheaper?
While meat and sweet treats have become more expensive, items like vegetables and butter have become cheaper. The overall food basket tells an interesting story and is influenced by its different components.
09:13 What’s driving price increases for certain products?
Raw material costs, climate change, and supply and demand factors all affect food prices. Rising wages and energy costs also play a role.
12:35 Why do food prices matter so much?
Food is a big part of our budget and cannot be replaced by other items. Also, since we go to the supermarket often, food prices play a big role in shaping our inflation expectations.
19:10 What can we do about rising food prices?
Temporary vs structural changes – how do they differ? And what’s the ECB’s role when it comes to inflation and food prices?
20:52 What’s in store for our grocery bills in 2026?
Good news: food inflation is set to ease in the coming year. So, what does this mean for your wallet?
22:06 Our guests’ hot tips
Elisabeth and Zivile share their hot tips.
Further reading:
Inside the food basket: what is behind recent food inflation? (Economic Bulletin Issue 8, 2025)
We asked current participants Oisín and Agni to share their tips for the application process and why they recommend this opportunity. Watch the video to hear directly from them!
We’re looking for candidates who:
🇪🇺 are EU citizens
🎓 have a master’s degree or a PhD
💪 are motivated to work for Europe
Think you have what it takes? Apply by 13 February [link]
The Focus Session on the digital euro aim to outline the pilot’s objectives, timeline, and payment service providers (PSPs) selection process. In November 2025, the ECB announced its plan to launch a call for expressions of interest in 2026, inviting European payment service providers to join a digital euro pilot expected in the second half of 2027.
The event is for all stakeholders, including PSPs, technical service providers, merchants and consumers who would like to learn more about the digital euro pilot.
