The Minister of Finance, Dr Andrej Bajuk, will be chairing the meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN).

The meeting will commence at 10.00 a.m. with the adoption of conclusions relating to the assessment of Stability and Convergence Programmes of the first group of Member States. In the context of preparations for the Spring European Council, to be held on 13 and 14 March, the Ministers are expected to adopt the Key Issues Paper; they will adopt conclusions on the efficiency of economic instruments in achieving energy and climate change objectives and exchange views on better regulation. At the end of the meeting, the Ministers will also accept the Council recommendation on the discharge to be given to the European Commission in respect of the implementation of the EU budget for the financial year 2006.

The Presidency press conference will be held before the working lunch (approximately 1.00 p.m.).

Presidency Briefing