Tom Hayes
Question:52 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Finance the agenda items which will be discussed at the ECOFIN meeting planned for Ireland. [8700/04]
View answerTuesday, 23 March 2004
Questions (63)
Written answers
The informal meeting of the Council of Economics and Finance Ministers of the EU — the ECOFIN Council — will take place in Punchestown, County Kildare on 2-4 April. This will be one of the largest meetings to take place in Ireland during the Presidency. Some 300 delegates and up to 400 media personnel will attend. The national delegations from the 25 member states of the enlarged EU will be led by Ministers for Finance and central bank governors in each case.
I look forward to chairing this important meeting. The draft agenda starts with a review by Ministers and governors of the economic situation and of the outlook for the continuing recovery. It continues with preparation of the Presidency's input on behalf of the EU at the forthcoming spring meetings of the IMF and the World Bank in Washington. This is followed by discussion on financial services and markets issues, including an update on the EU-US dialogue on a common approach to financial services regulation to facilitate greater access to capital markets.
Ministers will also exchange views on the Commission's communication of February last on the multiannual framework for the EU budget for the period 2007-2013. The meeting will provide an opportunity for Ministers to provide initial feedback to the Commission. This will inform the Commission's preparation of its legislative proposals in this area by mid-year, following which the negotiations are expected to get down to detail. An important part of the negotiations will be the policy and provision for Structural Funds in the post-2006 period.
This informal meeting is taking place at an important time. Shortly afterwards, on 1 May, the EU will welcome the ten new member states as full formal members into the Union. The meeting itself has a challenging agenda. I look forward to making good progress on the agenda items, all of which are important for the promotion of future growth, trade and solidarity in the Union, to the benefit of all our citizens.
Question No. 53 answered with QuestionNo. 25.