About: EU finance ministers
Stark divisions among member states in EU digital tax plans
EU finance ministers remain divided over a raft of issues in the European Commission's digital services tax (DST) plans after a meeting on Tuesday (6 November) drew attention to a plethora of challenges in reaching a consensus.
Some countries ‘more comfortable’ with interim deal on digital tax, EU diplomats say
Some EU member states are likely to feel “more comfortable” with a temporary agreement on the EU’s digital tax plans rather than wait for international consensus, EU diplomats said on Monday (5 November), ahead of a meeting of EU finance ministers.
Macron shifts focus away from eurozone reform to court Merkel
French President Emmanuel Macron, concerned that a divisive discussion over eurozone reform might undermine his broader European agenda, has begun prioritizing other areas of EU cooperation, French officials say.
Tusk tells Greece : The game is over
Greece has no more time for "gambling" and needs to decide on a cash-for-reforms deal, European Council President Donald Tusk said on Thursday (11 June), ahead of a crucial meeting of euro zone finance ministers in Luxembourg next week.Europe’s ‘phantom’ companies are helping criminals
European finance ministers meeting in Brussels today should take clear action to clamp down Europe’s anonymous shelf companies, which are used for money laundering and other criminal purposes, writes Eloise Todd. VideoPromoted content
Finance ministers tussle over banking union, sovereignty
Questions over how far the European Central Bank (ECB) should control Europe’s banks dominated yesterday’s meeting of eurozone finance ministers and look set to continue today (15 October) as member states push back against the Commission’s powers under the new European Semester.
Finance ministers tussle over banking union, sovereignty
Questions over how far the European Central Bank (ECB) should control Europe’s banks dominated yesterday’s meeting of eurozone finance ministers and look set to continue today (15 October) as member states push back against the Commission’s powers under the new European Semester.
Austria isolated on banking secrecy
Finance ministers meeting in Dublin have pledged greater information-sharing to counter tax evasion and isolated Austria for its continuing refusal to share information on bank deposits. The issue will be on the agenda of a European summit in May. EURACTIV reports from Dublin.
Dutch minister expected to be named Eurogroup chief
Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem is to be named the next chairman of eurozone finance ministers in January, diplomatic sources told German newspaper Handelsblatt. VideoPromoted content
Eurogroup launches permanent rescue fund, says Spain does not need bailout
Eurozone's new permanent rescue fund was launched on Monday at a meeting of finance ministers in Luxembourg. Funded by taxpayers' money, the so-called European Stability Mechanism will have a 500 bn euro budget to help finance debt-ridden countries.
Outspoken German politician hits back in Swiss tax dispute
Peer Steinbrück, the former Germany finance minister who is to run as the Social-Democrat (SPD) challenger to Chancellor Angela Merkel next year, has demonstrated his tendency for plain speaking by calling Swiss bankers 'Indians' in a move that seems to set the tone for his electoral campaign.
‘Very tough autumn’ ahead for EU’s banking union plans
Clear fault lines over the timetable and treatment of non-eurozone member states within the proposed European banking union emerged at an informal meeting of the bloc’s finance ministers in Cyprus on Saturday (15 September). EURACTIV reports from Nicosia.
Merkel partners call for Greek euro exit
Angela Merkel's coalition partners are lining up to demand a Greek exit from the euro, mounting pressure on the German chancellor and fanning market fears that Greece could shortly leave the single currency bloc.
Luxembourg scoops ECB job as part of Spain deal
Luxembourg won out last night (9 July) as eurozone ministers agreed that Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker should continue to chair the group, whilst his compatriot Yves Mersch will join the European Central Bank’s six-member executive board.
Spain given one year respite over budget
Eurozone ministers agreed early this morning (10 July) to grant Spain an extra year until 2014 to reach its deficit reduction targets in exchange for further budget savings and set the parameters of an aid package for Madrid's ailing banks.
Germany spearheads ‘Robin Hood’ tax group of EU nations
At least nine countries led by Germany are expected to ask the European Commission to draw up plans for a so-called "enhanced co-operation" on the financial transactions tax (FTT) following a meeting of EU finance minister in Luxembourg on Friday (22 June).
Ministers mull ‘enhanced co-operation’ on finance tax
Faced with fierce opposition from Britain and Sweden, France and Germany could formally request plans for a smaller group of countries to move forward on a financial transactions tax (FTT) when finance ministers meet in Luxembourg on Friday (22 June). VideoPromoted content
Ecofin highlights EU divisions on bank capital rules
European Finance Ministers on Wednesday met in Brussels to agree on new capital requirement rules for banks. The new law affects over 8000 banks across Europe. It aims to give them more flexibility to protect themselves against future financial crisis. The Danish presidency hopes to reach a deal on the new capital rules among EU member states before the summer. Their proposal would allow national regulators to ask for a 3% increase of capital without permission from the European Commission. Anything above that would still have to get the green light from Brussels.
Danes push for grand compromise on bank rules
The Danish EU presidency plans today (2 May) to seek agreement on compromise measures designed to beef up capital requirements on 8,300 banks across Europe, as finance ministers meet for a special meeting in Brussels.
Merkel accepts eurozone firewall increase
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has signalled for the first time that she was prepared to compromise on boosting funds available for bailing out struggling eurozone countries, paving the way for an increase in the bloc's firewall to contain the debt crisis.
Greece locked in chicken-and-egg bond deal dilemma
Greece must underscore its political commitment to economic reforms if it is to receive a second EU bailout, finance ministers meeting in Brussels warned yesterday (24 January). Meanwhile, Greece's creditor banks argue they cannot fulfil their part of the deal unless the EU first commits the money.
Tax spat to dog finance ministers
European finance ministers are set for a spat today over the extent to which the financial transactions tax (FTT) – strongly backed by France and Germany – should be pushed on the EU agenda.EU wants to keep IMF seats
European Union finance ministers are unlikely to decide to cut the number of European seats at the executive board of the International Monetary Fund any time soon, according to EU sources, despite pressure from the United States.