EU finance ministers are meeting in Brussels for a new round of Eurogroup and Ecofin discussions, with economic stability, banking resilience, and competitiveness among the key topics on the agenda.
The meetings are chaired by Kyriakos Pierrakakis, Greece’s Minister of National Economy and Finance, who also serves as President of the Eurogroup. He is leading both the Eurogroup session and participating in Ecofin discussions, which bring together the finance ministers of EU member states.
On Tuesday, he will also appear before the European Parliament’s Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, where he is expected to respond to questions from Members of the European Parliament on the eurozone’s main policy priorities.
Later in the day, he will join a panel discussion hosted by the IE Competitiveness Hub, focused on strengthening the competitiveness of the European economy. The panel will include former Italian Prime Minister and former EU Economic Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni, as well as Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economy, Trade and Business Carlos Cuerpo.
Economic outlook and global risks on the table
A central theme of the Eurogroup discussions is the impact of ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and their effects on both the European and global economy. The session includes participation from the International Monetary Fund, with Oya Celasun, Deputy Director of the IMF’s European Department, presenting the Fund’s assessment of macroeconomic risks linked to the crisis.
Eurozone finance ministers are also expected to address the resilience of the European banking sector, the deepening of the banking union, and ways to improve financing conditions for the broader economy. These discussions will include input from Slawomir Krupa, President of the European Banking Federation.
Senior representatives from the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) and the Single Resolution Board (SRB) will also provide their regular semi-annual updates.
Capital markets, innovation, and financial reform
Another key item on the agenda is the presentation of the FIVE Report on financing innovation in Europe. The report, delivered by Christian Noyer and Jörg Kukies, focuses on proposals to develop European capital markets and improve access to private funding for startups and growing businesses.
Greece is represented at the Ecofin meeting by the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance.
Ministers will also discuss a Council regulation concerning access by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) to VAT-related information across the European Union. Further items include measures aimed at completing and supervising market structures as part of the broader Savings and Investment Union strategy.
Updates will also be shared from recent international financial meetings, including the G20 finance ministers’ gathering and the latest spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund.
