Eurogroup meeting, 11 February 2016

A Eurogroup meeting was scheduled take place on 11 February 2016, in Brussels. The agenda included the following topics:

+ Exchange of views on the economic situation in the Euro area, following a presentation by the European Commission on its 2016 winter economic forecast;

+ Discussion on the quality of public finances, with a focus on the composition of public expenditure and its capacity to deliver the expected public policy results;

+ Exchange of views on the European Commission's study on the use of the euro in global markets and countries outside the euro area. The Eurogroup had requested an analysis to identify whether there were any barriers to using the Euro in international transactions;

+ Briefing on the state of play of the discussions on reforms to be included in the first review of the agreement between Greece and its creditors, in particular the pension reform and a number of fiscal measures;

+ Discussion on the European Commission's opinion on Portugal's draft budgetary plan for 2016, following by a discussion on the results of the third post-programme surveillance mission to Portugal, which took place from 25 January to 2 February 2016.

ESO: Background information: Eurogroup meeting, 14 January 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/eurogroup-meeting-14-january-2016/

European Commission: Speech: Commissioner Moscovici remarks at the Eurogroup press conference http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-16-290_en.htm

Eurogroup: Statements and remarks: Remarks by J. Dijsselbloem following the Eurogroup meeting of 11 February 2016 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/02/11-eurogroup-jd-remarks/

ESO: Background information: Eurogroup Statement on the Draft Budgetary Plan of Portugal for 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/statement-eurogroup-statement-on-the-draft-budgetary-plan-of-portugal-for-2016/

EUObserver, 11.02.16: EU banks are 'robust', eurozone chiefs say https://euobserver.com/economic/132246

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