07/02/2020 (Agence Europe) – The national experts responsible for preparing the meetings of the euro area finance ministers chose Finland's Tuomas Saarenheimo on Thursday 6 February to lead their work in the Eurogroup working party for two years. This choice will be confirmed by the ministers on Monday 17 February, said the President of the Eurogroup, Mário Centeno, via Twitter. It is believed that the appointment of a Finn to head the EU Council working party, replacing the Dutchman Hans Vijlbrief, recently appointed to his country's government (see EUROPE 12414/21), will influence the election this summer of the future president of the Eurogroup, if Mr Centeno does not stand for re-election. A minister from a southern European country would thus have a better chance of being elected by his or her peers. (MB)