The June Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) meeting, the last under the Slovenian Presidency, will have a celebratory note as two anniversaries will be commemorated: the 10th anniversary of the European Central Bank (ECB) and the European System of Central Banks (ESCB), and the 50th anniversary of the European Investment Bank (EIB). The usual Eurogroup meeting will also take place, as well as the EIB Governors’ Annual Meeting.
The two-day agenda commences on 2 June in Frankfurt with the Eurogroup meeting. It will be followed by a ceremony celebrating the 10th anniversary of the ECB/ESCB in Frankfurt’s Alte Oper (Old Opera House). In the evening, the Ministers will travel to Luxembourg, where they will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the EIB by inaugurating its new building.
The meetings in Luxembourg will continue on 3 June, starting with the European Investment Bank Governors’ Annual Meeting.
After that, the ECOFIN Council will meet under the chairmanship of the Slovenian Finance Minister, Andrej Bajuk. The EU Finance Ministers will open the meeting with an exchange of views on another anniversary - the 10th anniversary of European Monetary Union. They will also exchange views on the Convergence reports prepared by the Commission and the ECB, as well as the preparations for the upcoming European Council.
The Ministers are also set to adopt Council conclusions on Financial Services (Clearing and Settlement) and to receive a progress report from the Presidency on Solvency II. They will adopt conclusions on the Report of the Code of Conduct Group on business taxation and receive a progress report on the overhaul of VAT on financial and insurance services and on the proposal for a Directive concerning the general arrangements for excise duty.
Press programme:
Monday 2 June, FRANKFURT
09.30 (tbc) - Eurogroup (ECB Eurotower, photo opportunity at the beginning)
12.00 (tbc) - Press conference (ECB Eurotower)
15.30 - ECB 10th anniversary ceremony (Alte Oper, Grosse Saal)
Monday 2 June, LUXEMBOURG
19.00 - EIB 50th anniversary reception and inauguration of the new EIB building
Tuesday 3 June, LUXEMBOURG
09.00 - EIB Governors’ Annual Meeting (KIEM Centre)
10.30 - ECOFIN Council (KIEM Centre, photo opportunity at the beginning)
13.00 (tbc) - Press conference (KIEM Centre, press conference room)
