Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris is in Brussels for a two-day series of engagements, which includes meetings of the Eurogroup and the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN).
He began his visit with a bilateral discussion with EU Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, who oversees the Economy and Productivity portfolio, reports RTE.
He was also scheduled to meet with the President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), Nadia Calviño, to discuss major priorities set out in Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP), including significant strategic infrastructure investments.
The Tánaiste and his fellow Eurozone finance ministers were then expected to take part in the December Eurogroup meeting, during which ministers will select a new Eurogroup President through a secret ballot, reports RTE.
Belgium’s Vincent Van Peteghem and Greece’s Kyriakos Pierrakakis are both vying to succeed Paschal Donohoe, who stepped down last month to assume a role at the World Bank.
Mr Pierrakakis has overseen Greece’s finances since March, having previously held ministerial roles in digital governance and education.
Mr Van Peteghem, a strong proponent of fiscal tightening in a country with one of the eurozone’s highest debt levels, has managed Belgium’s financial affairs since 2020 across two coalition governments, reports RTE.
The Eurogroup will also formally open the nomination process for the position of European Central Bank (ECB) vice-president.
The current office holder, Spaniard Luis de Guindos, will complete his term at the Frankfurt-based institution in May next year, reports RTE.
The Tánaiste is also set to participate in the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) Board of Governors meeting, while later tonight he will attend an informal dinner of ECOFIN ministers focused on the European Commission’s proposed reparations loan for Ukraine.
The primary agenda item for tomorrow’s ECOFIN meeting will be a discussion on the flagship EU Financial Services Policy, known as the Savings and Investment Union, which is expected to feature prominently during Ireland’s EU Presidency next year, reports RTE.
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