Cyprus’s Finance Minister, Makis Keravnos, will participate in the Eurogroup and Ecofin Council meetings in Brussels on Monday and Tuesday, March 10 and 11.

Today, he will take part in the Macroeconomic Dialogue, which brings together representatives of European social partner confederations, EU institutions, the current Presidency of the EU Council, and the next two Presidencies—Denmark and Cyprus. The meeting will focus on current economic developments and challenges, as well as restrictions on completing the single market in the services sector.

Later that day, Keravnos will attend the Eurogroup meeting, where finance ministers will receive briefings from EU institutions on macroeconomic developments and prospects, particularly in light of recent geopolitical events. They will also discuss fiscal policy coordination within the Eurozone.

On Tuesday, March 11, the Ecofin Council will convene to exchange views on simplifying and improving the European business environment. Discussions will be based on recent European Commission proposals aimed at streamlining EU regulations, enhancing competitiveness, and unlocking additional investment resources.

Ministers will also assess the economic impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, focusing on the effective enforcement of sanctions from a customs perspective. Additionally, the Council will seek to reach a political agreement on the Directive on Administrative Cooperation in Taxation (DAC9).

Ecofin will also receive updates on the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility and approve the revised recovery and resilience plans of Ireland and Belgium.

On Monday evening, finance ministers will attend an informal working dinner, organized by the Polish Presidency. They will be briefed on the outcomes of the extraordinary European Council Summit held on March 6 and will discuss financing options to meet growing defense needs.