Bids for Eurogroup Presidency mandate starting in 2018

Summary:

Overview and information on the candidates running to become the President of the Eurogroup for the period 2018-2020.

Further information:

The new President would succeed incumbent Jeroen Dijsselbloem (the Netherlands), who was not eligible upon the expiry of his mandate in January 2018.

Four candidates were announced on 30 November 2017:

• Dana Reizniece-Ozola (Latvia)
• Mário Centeno (Portugal)
• Peter Kazimir (Slovakia)
• Pierre Gramegna (Luxembourg)

Media outlets highlighted the fine balance required in electing the successor as head of this informal group of Finance Ministers, both geographically and politically. The Portuguese minister emerged as the favourite, as the centre-left was seen as likely to take the job (the centre-right already held most of the top jobs in the European institutions).

The election (simple majority required) was held on 4 December, during a meeting of the Eurogroup. Mr Centeno was eventually elected in the second round of votes, following the withdrawal of the remaining candidates. Mário Centeno's mandate as head of the Eurogroup started on 13 January 2018.

Official

Eurogroup: Press Release, 30/11/2017: Four candidates declared for Eurogroup presidency http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/11/30/four-candidates-declared-for-eurogroup-presidency/

Eurogroup: Press Release, 04/12/2017: Mário Centeno to become next Eurogroup President http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/12/04/mario-centeno-to-become-next-eurogroup-president/

EIB: Newsroom, 05/12/2017: EU Bank welcomes election of Mario Centeno, Portugal’s Finance Minister and Chairman of the EIB Board of Governors, to President of the Eurogroup https://www.eib.org/en/press/all/2017-350-eu-bank-welcomes-election-of-mario-centeno-portugals-finance-minister-and-chairman-of-the-eib-board-of-governors-to-president-of-the-eurogroup

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News

Reuters, 06/11/2017: Slovakia's Kazimir bids to chair euro zone finance ministers https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1D61UB

The Slovak Spectator, 06/11/2017: Slovak FinMin is interested in becoming Eurogroup head https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20690367/slovak-finmin-is-interested-in-becoming-eurogroup-head.html

Malta Today, 06/11/2017: Edward Scicluna eyes euro area finance ministers’ top post http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/europe/81980/edward_scicluna_eyes_euro_area_finance_ministers_top_post

Luxemburger Wort, 06/11/2017: Five nations most likely to win musical chairs for top euro job https://www.wort.lu/en/politics/eurogroup-chief-five-nations-most-likely-to-win-musical-chairs-for-top-euro-job-5a007fbdc1097cee25b76d24

Malta Today, 30/11/2017: Four candidates vying for Eurogroup presidency and Edward Scicluna is not one of them http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/europe/82692/four_candidates_vying_for_eurogroup_presidency_and_edward_scicluna_is_not_one_of_them

The Slovak Spectator, 30/11/2017: Kažimír: I see the eurozone as the driving force of European integration https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20708257/kazimir-i-see-the-eurozone-as-the-driving-force-of-european-integration.html

Reuters, 30/11/2017: Latvia, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovakia bid for Eurogroup chair https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1DU1RA

Politico, 30/11/2017: Eastern Europe strikes back at EU establishment with Eurogroup bid https://www.politico.eu/article/eastern-europe-strikes-back-at-eu-establishment-with-eurogroup-bid/

Politico, 01/12/2017: Charges of backroom deal wreak havoc in Eurogroup race https://www.politico.eu/article/eurogroup-charges-of-backroom-deal-wreak-havoc-race/

EUObserver, 04/12/2017: Portuguese minister favourite in 'open' Eurogroup race https://euobserver.com/institutional/140128

EurActiv, 04/12/2017: Battle to lead Eurogroup reaches climax http://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/battle-to-lead-eurogroup-reaches-climax/

Deutsche Welle, 04/12/2017: Eurozone finance ministers pick Portuguese as their new leader https://p.dw.com/p/2okh0

Politico, 04/12/2017: Eurogroup’s next leader will be Portugal’s Mário Centeno https://www.politico.eu/article/eurogroups-next-leader-will-be-portugals-mario-centeno/

Delano, 04/12/2017: Gramegna loses Eurogroup bid https://delano.lu/d/detail/news/gramegna-loses-eurogroup-bid/163333

The Slovak Spectator, 04/12/2017: Slovak finance chief fails to become new head of the Eurogroup https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20711013/slovak-finance-chief-fails-to-become-new-head-of-the-eurogroup.html

The New York Times, 04/12/2017: Eurogroup, Looking Past Period of Crisis, Picks New Leader From Portugal https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/04/business/eurogroup-president-mario-centeno.html

EUObserver, 05/12/2017: Centeno: Eurogroup picks Southern head https://euobserver.com/institutional/140148

EurActiv, 05/12/2017: Portugal scores again, landing Eurogroup presidency https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/portugal-scores-again-landing-eurogroup-presidency/

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Commentary and Analysis

Politico, 04/12/2017: How Eurogroup’s ‘Cristiano Ronaldo’ got to captain the team https://www.politico.eu/article/mario-centeno-how-eurogroups-cristiano-ronaldo-got-to-captain-the-team/

France24, 04/12/2017: Mario Centeno, the 'Ronaldo' of the eurozone https://www.france24.com/en/20171204-mario-centeno-ronaldo-eurozone

openDemocracy: Can Europe Make It, 11/12/2017: How Mario Centeno could change Europe https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/can-europe-make-it/centeno-through-looking-glass/

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