Agenda informele Ecofin en Eurogroep: Lissabon, Steun aan de Gazastrook, interne controle EU-instellingen, Stabiliteitspact (en)

(Amelia Torres, Maria Assimakopoulou, Valérie Rampi)

Eurogroup (AT)

Eurogroup ministers will meet at 19:00 hrs on Monday 11 July. Joaquín Almunia i, Commissioner responsible for Economic and Monetary Affairs, will attend.

The meeting will start with a presentation of the main work priorities for the Eurogroup in the coming months. Ministers will then have an exchange of views on the economic situation in view, in particular, of the evolution of oil prices and of a Commission study on the differences in growth rates in the euro zone.

Getting down to budgetary surveillance issues and in accordance with the Eurogroup working methods agreed in November 2004, ministers will continue their forward-looking mid-year review of budgetary developments started at the June meeting. The second discussion will focus on the six countries not examined in June: Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland, Luxembourg and Spain.

On the more specific issue of the implementation of the Stability and Growth Pact, ministers will discuss the Commission's evaluation of, and recommendations regarding, the updated stability programme of Portugal (see IP/05/769). They will also discuss the Commission's opinion that an excessive deficit exists in Italy and recommendations for its correction (see IP/05/809).

A press conference on the Eurogroup meeting is expected to take place on Tuesday 12 July at 9.30 am.

Ecofin Council

The European Union's Council of Economics and Finance Ministers will start at 10.30 hrs on Tuesday 12 July. The European Commission will be represented at the Council by Administrative affairs, audit and anti-fraud Vice President Siim Kallas i, Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquín Almunia i and, Taxation and Customs Union Commissioner László Kovács i.

Integrated guidelines (AT)
After a thorough discussion at its previous meetings, the Council is expected to adopt as an "A" (non-discussion) point the 2005-2008 "Integrated Guidelines Package" for re-launching the Lisbon strategy designed to generate more growth and jobs in the European Union.

Presidency work programme

The Council will hear about the UK Presidency's work programme in the field of economic affairs which includes, among others, the implementation of the revised Lisbon strategy, the better regulation programme, the implementation of the stability and growth pact, and the EU-US economic relations.

Financing for development (MA)

Ecofin ministers are also due to take stock of the results of the G8 Summit and discuss a coordinated European strategy for the financing of development for the September United Nations summit.

They will, therefore, continue to look at innovative mechanisms to finance development aid and, in particular, to the question of introducing a contribution on airline tickets on an EU wide-basis.

Economic regeneration of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (AT)

The Council will hear about the EU support, including financial aid, to the Middle East Peace Process and options for increasing that contribution. European Investment Bank President Philippe Maystadt will attend.

Roadmap to an integrated internal control framework (VR)

The Commission adopted on 15th June a Communication to the European Parliament, Council and European Court of Auditors on a roadmap towards an integrated control framework. It intends to initiate a process which would ead by November 2005 to a common understanding with EP and Council on how the current internal control framework can be improved, in order to make it possible for the Commission to provide the European Court of Auditors with reasonable assurance as to the legality and regularity of transactions underlying the implementation of the EU budget.

The Commission thus intends to build further on the achievements of its administrative reform to complete an integrated control framework.

Commissioner Siim Kallas i will propose that ministers endorse the procedure proposed, set up a high level Panel and instruct the Budget Committee to report back to the November ECOFIN.

Implementation of the Stability and Growth Pact (AT)

• Assessment of the updated Stability Programme of Portugal

The Council is due to give its opinion on the updated stability programme of Portugal assessed by the Commission on 22 June (see IP/05/769)

• Application of ongoing excessive deficit procedure

The Council is expected to decide, on the basis of the Commission recommendations adopted on 29 June (see IP/05/809) that an excessive deficit exists in Italy and to recommend the Italian government to correct it by the end of 2007 at the latest (Articles 104.6 and 104.7 of the Treaty).

Ministerial dialogue with the acceding and candidate countries (AT)

The Economic and Finance Ministers of the EU and of the acceding and candidate countries, along with representatives of the Commission, the European Central Bank and the national central banks concerned, will meet for their seventh economic policy dialogue meeting. Ministers are expected to welcome the 2005 Pre-accession Fiscal Notifications of the acceding and candidate countries and endorse the assessments of these notifications by the Commission services.