Brussels, 04/05/2001 (Agence Europe) - The finance ministers of the euro-zone member states are to meet next Monday at 9h00 under the presidency of Didier Reynders. During their meeting they will make their traditional overview of the economy of Euroland and the rest of the world, in the light of the results of the G7-Finance meeting, the spring meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the spring economic forecasts of the European Commission. Diplomatic sources say it is "inevitable that ministers tackle the question of the cut in interest rates by the European Central Bank".
Ministers will also discuss structural themes linked to work and to the reform of tax benefit systems, as planned by the European Council of Nice, on the basis of discussions conducted within the Economic and Financial Committee (EFC) on the subject of a note from the European Commission. Commissioner Pedro Solbes, responsible for economic and financial affairs, and EFC President Mario Draghi will report on the state of progress of the dossier.
The Twelve will also continue preparing for changeover to the euro and will study a report on the work of the group on "global communication" and, in this connection, on the launching of a joint event on 31 December 2001. Mr Solbes had insisted on reinforcing coordination for preparing transition to the euro, on the basis of the sixth monthly scoreboard. He is to announce Commission initiatives for the euro week (from 5 to 12 May).