EU finance ministers talk banks, loan tranches and Slovenia

Reports of the Ecofin Council, and related Eurogroup Meeting, Brussels, 13-14 May 2013.

Eurozone finance ministers freed a first tranche of loans for Cyprus, met Italy's new government, and urged Slovenia to act in haste to avoid the need for emergency loans.

EurActiv also reported that, due to the negotiations around the new bank secrecy rules, political infighting erupted in the Austrian government coalition.

EUObserver reported that Luxembourg refused the new EU law against tax evasion. Its finance minister, Luc Frieden, told press in Brussels on the 13 May 2013: "We won't agree tomorrow to the savings tax directive with an extended use because there's still some need for clarification."

• Primary Source

EurActiv, 14.05.13: Austrian coalition split over EU bank secrecy rules http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/austrian-politicians-squabble-eu-news-519687

EUObserver, 14.05.13: Cyprus gets €2bn despite money laundering concerns http://euobserver.com/justice/120107

EUObserver, 13.05.13: EU targets tax evasion on savings http://euobserver.com/economic/120104

EUObserver, 14.05.13: Luxembourg says No to new EU tax law http://euobserver.com/economic/120115

ESO: Background Information: Parliament in Cyprus passes international bailout deal http://www.europeansources.info/record/parliament-in-cyprus-passes-international-bailout-deal/

ESO: Background Information: Austria eases its stance on banking secrecy http://www.europeansources.info/record/austria-eases-its-stance-on-banking-secrecy/

ESO: Background information: Luxembourg open to bank secrecy changes http://www.europeansources.info/record/luxembourg-open-to-bank-secrecy-changes/

ESO: Background information: Slovenia unveils reforms as it seeks to avoid EU bailout http://www.europeansources.info/record/slovenia-unveils-reforms-as-it-seeks-to-avoid-eu-bailout/

EUObserver, 15.05.13: EU finance ministers draw blank on new tax law http://euobserver.com/economic/120123

Spiegel Online International, 15.05.13: Battling the Crisis: Disunity Plagues EU Banking Union Talks http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/european-finance-ministers-split-on-way-forward-for-banking-union-a-899924.html

Deutsche Welle, 15.05.13: EU gets down to business to tackle tax evasion http://dw.de/p/18Xi2

BBC News, 15.05.13: EU to start talks with non-EU countries on tax evasion http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22524970

Council of the European Union: ECOFIN Conclusions, 14 May 2013 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ecofin/137122.pdf

EUObserver, 22.05.13: Austria, Luxembourg to play ball in tax clampdown http://euobserver.com/economic/120182

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