Hatzidakis in Brussels for Eurogroup and Ecofin meetings

Minister of National Economy and Finance Kostis Hatzidakis is travelling to Brussels to participate in the Eurogroup and Ecofin meetings on Monday and Tuesday.

The Eurogroup meeting will be held today, with the agenda including a discussion on the economic priorities of the eurozone over the next five years, in light of the start of the new legislative cycle. The recommendations issued by the European Commission for the economic policy of the eurozone, within the framework of the European Semester, as well as the progress of work on the adoption of the digital euro, will also be discussed.

The ministers will then attend an informal working dinner organised by the Polish presidency, on ways to address rising energy prices and the future of EU-US relations.

At the Ecofin meeting tomorrow, the Polish presidency will present its work programme for the first half of the year in the field of economic and budgetary matters. Ministers will then exchange views on the need for simplification and reduction of administrative burdens in order to strengthen the competitiveness of the European economy. In addition, there will be an update on the implementation of the Recovery Fund, while the revised national plans for Greece, Cyprus and Spain are expected to be approved. The Council is also expected to issue recommendations on the medium-term fiscal and structural plans submitted so far by 21 Member States, including Greece, as well as recommendations for the countries currently subject to an excessive deficit procedure. During the Council breakfast, a discussion will be held on the economic impact of the war in Ukraine, in the presence of the Ukrainian Minister of Finance.

On the sidelines of the meetings, Hatzidakis will have meetings with European officials.