Mandate of Mário Centeno as President of the Eurogroup (2018-2020)

Author (Corporate)
Publication Date 2018-2020
Content Type

Summary:

Over and information concerning the first (and only) mandate by Portuguese Finance Minister Mário Centeno as President of the Eurogroup, from January 2018 until July 2020.

Further information:

Mário Centeno was appointed Portugal's Finance Minister in November 2015. He became the face of the country's economic recovery following a deep economic crisis, achieving above-average economic growth and pre-crisis unemployment rates. His record as Finance Minister helped shaping the image of Portugal's centre-left government, seen as a successful case of a social democratic approach to the economic challenges facing the Eurozone.

Mário Centeno was elected for the Eurogroup Presidency on 4 December 2017 and started his mandate on 13 January 2018. Mr Centeno led the first Eurogroup meeting on 22 January. On 9 July 2020, Mr Centeno announced his resignation as Finance Minister in Portugal. Two days later, he officially announced he would not seek reelection as President of the Eurogroup, as he launched a call for applications to find his successor.

Related Links
Official
Eurogroup: Press Release, 12/01/2018: Mário Centeno starts mandate as Eurogroup President http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/01/12/mario-centeno-starts-mandate-as-eurogroup-president/

News
Reuters, 12/01/2018: Euro zone must seize opportunity to reform: Eurogroup's Centeno https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1F121B
Jornal Económico, 17/04/2020: Yanis Varoufakis considers Mário Centeno's performance in the Eurogroup “shameful” https://jornaleconomico.sapo.pt/en/news/yanis-varoufakis-considers-shameful-performance-of-mario-centeno-in-eurogroup-577227
Kathimerini, 02/05/2020: Eurogroup chief tells Kathimerini of need for grants, not only loans https://www.ekathimerini.com/252251/article/ekathimerini/news/eurogroup-chief-tells-kathimerini-of-need-for-grants-not-only-loans
Politico, 14/05/2020: Portugal’s banking tiff puts Mário Centeno under pressure https://www.politico.eu/article/portugal-banking-mario-centeno-under-pressure/
EurActiv, 09/06/2020: Mario Centeno quits Eurogroup post, Portuguese government https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/mario-centeno-leaves-the-portuguese-government/
Reuters, 09/06/2020: Portugal's Centeno says will step down as Eurogroup head https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN23G1VS
ECO News, 09/06/2020: Mário Centeno leaves Eurogroup and launches the call for candidates https://econews.pt/2020/06/09/mario-centeno-leaves-eurogroup-and-launches-the-call-for-candidates/
RFI News, 09/06/2020: Eurogroup chief Mario Centeno steps down http://www.rfi.fr/en/wires/20200609-eurogroup-chief-mario-centeno-steps-down
Euronews, 17/06/2020: Eurogroup chief Mario Centeno says no political reason behind quit decision https://www.euronews.com/2020/06/17/eurogroup-chief-mario-centeno-says-no-political-reason-behind-quit-decision
Bloomberg, 09/06/2020: Centeno’s Exit From Eurogroup Opens Door for Spanish Push https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-09/portugal-s-joao-leao-to-replace-centeno-as-finance-minister

Commentary and Analysis
Wikipedia: Mário Centeno https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A1rio_Centeno
IIEA: Blog, 16/01/2018: Mário Centeno becomes Eurogroup President: What does it mean for EMU? https://www.iiea.com/economics/mario-centeno-becomes-eurogroup-president-mean-emu/
Politico, 21/01/2018: Your job description, Mr. Centeno https://www.politico.eu/article/mario-centeno-eurogroup-job-description/
New Statesman, 17/04/2019: Mário Centeno: “We don’t see inequality as Europe’s problem yet” https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2019/04/m-rio-centeno-we-dont-see-inequality-europe-s-problem-yet
Jornal Económico, 09/06/2020: Jeroen Dijsselbloem: “Mário Centeno was, from the first day, a very serious colleague” https://jornaleconomico.sapo.pt/en/news/jeroen-dijsselbloem-mario-centeno-was-a-very-serious-colleague-from-the-first-day-599291
Bruegel: Events, 01/07/2020: The Euro Area after COVID-19 - A conversation with Mário Centeno https://www.bruegel.org/events/the-euro-area-after-covid-19-a-conversation-with-mario-centeno/

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