Central Banks

ECB Officials Look Beyond Inflation to Bigger Threats for Europe

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde and Bundesbank head Joachim Nagel 

Photographer: Alex Kraus/Bloomberg

Europe’s central bankers are stepping beyond their traditional role as guardians of price stability.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde and Bundesbank head Joachim Nagel are among those speaking up on things like defense and overhauling European Union decision-making — high-stakes issues that were once deemed off-limits for technocrats.