The review period for this Annual Report runs from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. The European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB) performed its regular identification and assessment of vulnerabilities and risks. The EU economy faced significant challenges to financial stability during the review period, driven primarily by external factors. Key risks included tensions in the Middle East and Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine. This led to commodity price volatility and inflation fears, which were mitigated by the EU’s efforts to red