Brussels, 03/11/2000 (Agence Europe) - The ministerial group of the Euro countries (Eurogroup) is to meet Monday November the 6th, in the evening (from 20.00 hrs.), chaired by French Economy and Finance Minister Laurent Fabius. As usual, they will first have an exchange of views on the economic and financial situation in the Euro Zone (including the latest monetary developments, see above). They will then be briefed on the first scoreboard on preparing the physical introduction of the euro for citizens; this exercise will henceforth occur once a month, given the importance of sound preparation. Ministers may also raise the issue of the exchange rates of the countries applicant for membership in relation to the euro.
The Eurogroup will then review the agenda of the EcoFin Council, to meet on Tuesday and which will, notably deal with the situation of the public finances in Member States, the impact of the ageing population, etc. EUROPE will present the detailed agenda of the EcoFin Council in its next bulletin.
The ministerial session of the Eurogroup will be preceded, Monday, from 18.45 hrs. by a meeting between the current Presidency (France) and the future Presidency (Sweden) of the Council, on the one hand and a delegation of the European Parliament's Economic and Financial Committee, on the other. The MEPs will doubtless speak of their desire for more regular links with the Council on problems of coordination between the economic policies of Member States, and also most likely on the question of a "political" spokesperson for Economic and Monetary Union, who should act as opposite number, for economic aspects, to the President of the European Central Bank, competent for monetary aspects. EUROPE recalls that the European Commission considers this role to be its own (through the President, or the Commissioner responsible for Economic and Monetary Affairs), but the Fifteen do not seem to agree.
The question of aid to Serbia will be dealt with on Tuesday at the EcoFin Council (macroeconomic assistance, possible EIB intervention), in anticipation of the Zagreb Summit of 24 November.