Brussels, 16/02/2001 (Agence Europe) - The G7-Finance, which will gather together, this weekend in Palermo, the Finance Ministers of the seven most industrialised countries, will be the opportunity for Europeans to have a first meeting with the new American Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill and to discuss the world economic situation (to the backdrop of the slowdown in the American economy), exchange rate policy, financial architecture, intervention in favour of certain countries and the situation in Russia. A press release recognises that the prospects for world growth have slightly deteriorated these last months, and, at the same time, notes "the emergence, among the large industrialised countries, of a more balanced vision of economic activity, which should support growth in the medium-term, state diplomatic sources.
The Ministers, accompanied by central bankers, will be joined on the first two points by the President of the Eurogroup, Didier Reynders, who will represent for the first time the countries of the Euro zone at the G7, and the President of the ECB Wim Duisenberg. The Commissioner responsible for Economic and Monetary Affairs Pedro Solbes will take part in the talks on Russia.