Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem pledged to work closely with Minister for Finance Edward Scicluna during his tenure as President of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council. Photo: Jonathan Borg
Dutch Finance Minister and Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem yesterday met with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Finance Minister Edward Scicluna, with the meetings focusing primarily on Malta’s upcoming presidency of the EU.
Dr Muscat, who received Dijsselbloem at the Auberge de Castille, said ongoing changes in the banking sector would be a priority during the Maltese presidency. He said Malta looked forward to working with the Eurogroup President and wanted to make sure that “there are some items on the agenda which we feel we are best positioned at understanding the realities of smaller countries.”
The PM said Malta also wanted to discuss governance of the euro summit. He said Malta is in a position of strength as a country that is doing well economically.
Mr Dijsselbloem noted Malta’s economic success and said the country was an example of the results that well-governed nations achieve despite the challenges.
Later, Mr Dijsselbloem met Professor Edward Scicluna at the Finance Ministry. He said the Maltese presidency and the Eurogroup had many commitments together, especially the banking union. “The Maltese presidency has every reason for us to not only see each other’s point of view and objectives but also collaboration. It is very important that the President of the Council and the President of the Eurogroup are aware of each other’s agenda.”
Mr Dijsselbloem said Malta was doing well economically and financially and an example of a member of the Eurozone that is performing strongly.
“I look forward to working with you very strongly in the coming months. There are big issues on the agenda in the field of the banking union, taxation matters, budgetary issues and also the future of the monetary union – all that in the context of a Eurozone which is doing better every year, fiscally,” the Eurogroup President said.