Brussels, 28/06/2006 (Agence Europe) - In a speech on Monday at the European University Institute, the President of the Eurogroup Jean-Claude Juncker repeated his proposals to set up a mechanism to improve dialogue between the Eurogroup, the European Commission and the European Central Bank (ECB). These proposals have already been given a cool reception by ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet, to whom Mr Juncker wrote at the end of May (see EUROPE 9201). Since then, Mr Trichet has argued that the contacts, set up by the Treaty of Maastricht, between the ECB and governments were among the best in the world between a central bank and political circles (see EUROPE 9207 and 9216).
While welcoming the fine performance of the ECB, particularly in terms of credibility, on Monday Mr Juncker insisted on the advantages of closer cooperation through regular meetings to discuss structural reform in the euro zone or exchange rates, and to give greater emphasis to the euro zone viewpoint in discussions with partners from outside the zone. This kind of meeting, which would not in any way affect the independence of the ECB in the field of monetary policy, could serve to formulate a joint assessment of major challenges to be faced by the euro zone, and give a more strategic slant to the work of the Eurogroup, he was at pains to point out.