06/10/2020 (Agence Europe) – The German Presidency of the EU Council is aiming for an agreement among Member States in October over the package of targeted amendments to EU financial regulations that the European Commission proposed in July for promoting increased investment in the economy, enabling the rapid recapitalisation of companies, and strengthening the ability of banks to finance the post-Covid-19 economic recovery (see EUROPE 12535/11). German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz told the Ecofin Council, who met by videoconference on Tuesday 6 October, that adoption of the EU Council's negotiating mandates is planned for the second half of October so that the negotiations with the European Parliament can start in November. Berlin hopes that inter-institutional negotiations can be concluded before the end of the year as this would “ensure that help for EU companies can come quickly and when it is needed most”. (MF)