On Monday 23 March, the European Finance Ministers agreed that the conditions were fulfilled to activate the general escape clause provided for in the Stability and Growth Pact (Regulations 1466/97 and 1467/97) in order to strengthen the budgetary measures to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in an unprecedented way.
"Ministers agree with the assessment of the European Commission (...) that the conditions for the use of the general escape clause - a severe economic downturn in the euro area or the...