European central bank head touts stimulus programs, warns of geopolitical risks, slow reforms

President of the European Central Bank Mario Draghi smiles before he takes his seat to address the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, at the European Parliament building, in Brussels on Monday, Sept. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Yves Logghe) (The Associated Press)

President of the European Central Bank Mario Draghi addresses the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, at the European Parliament building, in Brussels on Monday, Sept. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Yves Logghe) (The Associated Press)

President of the European Central Bank Mario Draghi walks towards his seat to address the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, at the European Parliament building, in Brussels on Monday, Sept. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Yves Logghe) (The Associated Press)

European Central Bank head Mario Draghi defended the bank's new stimulus programs as he warned that a tepid economic recovery in the eurozone "is losing momentum."

Draghi told members of the European parliament that recent economic indicators have given "no indication" of an upturn since August. The 18 countries that use the euro saw no economic growth at all in the second quarter.

Draghi said growth was threatened by geopolitical disturbances and by failure of euro member governments to reform their economies and make them more efficient.

He defended the bank's most recent stimulus program, an offer of cheap, long-term loans to banks. Banks took only 82.6 billion euros at the first offering Sept. 18, less than many market analysts expected. Draghi said the takeup was within the bank's expectations.