Brussels, 17/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - In Luxembourg on Thursday 18 June, eurozone finance ministers will not be deciding on the next head of Eurogroup.
“I will propose to Eurogroup to hold the president of Eurogroup election in July. Greece requires all attention. And, the election should not lead to debate on procedures,” tweeted the current head of Eurogroup, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, whose term of office ends in mid-July. The likelihood of agreement on a new head was slim on Thursday anyway (see related article).
The postponement comes at the right time for the Spanish candidate Luis De Guindos (see EUROPE 11333). Dijsselbloem would have preferred rapid agreement, but he is leaving time for the Spaniard to make his case to his eurozone colleagues. Upon request from the Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, the question may be discussed on the fringes of the European Summit on 25 and 26 June. On Wednesday, Germany made its support for the Spaniard official. German finance ministry spokesman Martin Jaeger said: “In the case of a vote, we would support Mr De Guindos.”
Spain has a large problem to solve, however, which is the fact that general elections will be held in the autumn. De Guindos wants to be head of Eurogroup without continuing as finance minister, but the only way this could work would be to make the head of Eurogroup a permanent position.
France wants Dijsselbloem to continue in his post as head of Eurogroup. (Mathieu Bion)