Berlin, 23/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - We will adopt our reports “on 16 May”, said Joaquín Almunia, on Saturday 21 April in Berlin, at the end of an informal meeting of the European finance ministers. He was referring to the assessments underway at the European Commission on the accession of Cyprus and Malta to the Eurozone. The commissioner for economic and monetary affairs added that in the case of a positive assessment for one - or both - of the countries in question, the Commission would make proposals as a consequence. “We are in the same situation”, said Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the European Central Bank (ECB). Both declined to anticipate the results of the analyses underway.
Peer Steinbrück, the German finance minister, indicated that member states tabling an application “had the right to have their dossier examined” on the basis of criteria which must be “the same for all”. Referring to the “success” of Slovenia, he added that the Eurozone was by no means an “exclusive preserve”. In reference to Cyprus's application, the president-in-exercise of the Ecofin Council stated that the “European Council may have to look into this”. The division of the island raises political questions relating to the accession to the Euro of the part situated within the EU. In February, Cyprus and Malta officially applied to join Eurozone (see EUROPE 9365 and 9375). If the Commission and the ECB return a positive evaluation and the European Council then gives its green light, this accession will take place at the start of 2008. (mb)