The Eurogroup and the informal Economic and Financial Affairs (ECOFIN) meetings are taking place on April 1-2 at Zappeio Megaron Conference Centre in Athens.

The ECOFIN agenda includes discussions on key issues of pan-European importance, such as the state of play of Banking Union - especially after the approval by COREPER of the compromise agreement reached by the Greek Presidency in its negotiations with the European Parliament on the Single Resolution Mechanism - the social aspects of growth and financial stability in Europe, the long term financing of the economy, especially the enhancement of SME financing, as well as the preparation of the IMF/World Bank Spring and G20 Finance Ministers meetings. Fostering growth and job creation, especially for younth, is high on the agenda of the Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP) ministerial meeting as well, where the European Investment Bank (EIB), will present its Roadmap 2020 to Finance Ministers, outlining its new strategy for the Mediterranean.

During the joint 13th ECOFIN/FEMIP Ministerial Meeting today, discussions will focus on the challenges and levers for sustainable growth and the new strategy of the European Investment Bank (EIB) for the Mediterranean looking forward to 2020. Fostering growth and job creation, especially for young people will be a key aspect of these discussions. Additional topics will include how the Bank can further strengthen and diversify its instruments in support of the private sector and whether more can be done for climate action in the region.

See also Greek EU Presidency: Informal Meeting of ECOFIN Ministers and Central Bank Governors

The Eurofi Seminar 2014 titled "Combining Resilience and Growth" is a two-day (31.03 – 1.04) event organized by Eurofi, a European think-tank, in association with the Greek EU Presidency and open to a targeted audience of public authorities and the financial industry.

Speaking at the international conference yesterday, Finance Minister Yiannis Stournaras said that "a banking union is one of the biggest challenges and goals on the road towards monetary unification since the introduction of the euro currency." Completion of a banking union is one of the preconditions to restore liquidity and credibility in European economy and in the banking sector, along with safeguarding economic stability, Stournaras said.

The Governor of the Bank of Greece Georgios Provopoulos also addressed the conference, and said that a second phase of a bank recapitalisation plan will play a significant role in restoring confidence towards Greece and the healthy funding of the economy. Commenting on a new bank restructuring mechanism, the central banker said the outcome of recent negotiations were satisfactory as they safeguarded the creation of a sustainable banking system in the Eurozone through a smooth restructuring of problematic banks to protect financial stability.

More information: Eurofi Programme