18/02/2025 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 17 February, the Eurogroup approved the economic and fiscal policy recommendation for the euro area as a whole, which recommends a slightly restrictive fiscal stance for 2025 and 2026 (see EUROPE 13578/30). “In the current complex economic environment, the euro area recommendation is as relevant as ever, in particular where it relates to competitiveness, resilience and macroeconomic and financial stability”, said its Chairman, Paschal Donohoe. However, he noted that “past recommendations have not always been used to the full potential”. “The ministers therefore agreed to make better use of the recommendation through a more structured, effective and coherent follow-up, in particular to define the Eurogroup’s future competitiveness programme”, he added. To see the recommendation to be definitively adopted by the Spring European Council, go to https://aeur.eu/f/fgg (MB)