27/04/2018 (Agence Europe) – On the fringes of the Eurogroup meeting (see other article) on Friday 27 April, the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) and the European Commission signed a memorandum of understanding setting out their cooperation methods for financial assistance plans for eurozone member states. The agreement states that this is not any form of adjustment to the rules already in force or any change to the powers of either side, but simply sets out the current mode of functioning for joint work. The document does not prejudge the outcome of talks on future reform of the ESM based on a package of proposals on extension of economic and monetary union (EMU), unveiled by the European Commission on 6 December 2017 (see EUROPE 11920). (LT)