'); More stimulus for Europe as ECB adds €500 billion to €1.35 trillion package, extending it into 2022 It comes against the backdrop of gloomy economic forecasts. By Ian Curran Thursday 10 Dec 2020, 12:48 PM Dec 10th 2020, 12:48 PM 8,847 Views 18 Comments The European Central Bank's Frankfurt HQ Image: Michael Probst Image: Michael Probst THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL Bank has increased its €1.35 trillion emergency bond-buying programme by €500 billion and extended it into March 2022. The move was announced this afternoon following a meeting of the ECB’s governing council in Frankfurt. The central bank also decided to keep interest rates unchanged at historically low levels and to keep providing cheap cash to European banks through its targeted longer-term refinancing operations (TLTROs).