Significant progress on stability and growth agenda at ECOFIN meeting

The Irish EU Presidency hosted the informal ECOFIN Council meeting on 12-13 April 2013 in Dublin.

The meeting focused on current economic and financial issues, and was preceded by a meeting of the Eurogroup on the 12 April 2013.

Participants at the informal ECOFIN include EU Member States’ Finance and Economy Ministers and Governors of the Central Banks of EU Member States, representatives from the EU institutions and international organisations.

After the meetings the Irish EU Presidency reported that significant progress was made on plans for Banking Union, a key to stability in Europe and on promoting funding for investment in SME's and Corporates. The decision to extend the maturities on the EFSF and EFSM loan for Ireland and Portugal was seen as representing a very positive development and would enhance the prospects of Portugal and Ireland of making a full and sustainable return to the market.

• Primary Source

Ireland: EU Presidency: Informal Meeting of ECOFIN Ministers http://eu2013.ie/events/event-items/informalmeetingofecofin-ministers-20130412/

ESO: Background information: Statement by the Eurogroup and Ecofin Ministers http://www.europeansources.info/record/statement-by-the-eurogroup-and-ecofin-ministers/

EurActiv, 15.04.13: Berlin demands EU treaty change for banking union http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/germany-requires-treaty-change-b-news-519105

ESO: Background Information: Speech: Speaking points by Vice President Rehn at the Press Conference of the Informal meeting of the Eurogroup http://www.europeansources.info/record/speech-speaking-points-by-vice-president-rehn-at-the-press-conference-of-the-informal-meeting-of-the-eurogroup/

ESO: Background Information: Significant progress on stability and growth agenda at ECOFIN meeting http://www.europeansources.info/record/speech-speaking-points-by-vice-president-rehn-at-the-press-conference-of-the-informal-ecofin-council/

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