Eurogroup meeting, 7 March 2016

A meeting of the Eurogroup took place on 7 March 2016, in Brussels. The agenda included the following topics:

+ Exchange of views on the implementation of Greece's economic adjustment programme, focusing on the reforms required for the successful completion of the first review;

+ Discussion on the programme implemented by Cyprus and financed by the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), which expires on 31 March 2016;

+ Follow-up debate on the implementation of the draft budgetary plans for 2016, particularly the commitments made by individual member states in November 2015, in the light of the Winter 2016 European economic forecast issued by the European Commission in February;

+ Analysis of the possibility of making further use of benchmarking in the context of its regular thematic discussions;

+ Discussion on increasing transparency of Eurogroup meetings.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Eurogroup meeting, 11 February 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/eurogroup-meeting-11-february-2016/

ESO: Background information: Grexit back on the agenda again as Greek economy unravels http://www.europeansources.info/record/grexit-back-on-the-agenda-again-as-greek-economy-unravels/

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: SPEECH/16/643, 07.03.16: Commissioner Moscovici remarks at the Eurogroup press conference http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-16-643_en.htm

Eurogroup: Press Release, 07.03.16: Eurogroup Statement on follow-up to the Draft Budgetary Plans for 2016 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/03/07-eurogroup-statement-draft-budgetary-plans-2016/

Eurogroup: Press Release, 07.03.16: Eurogroup Statement on Cyprus http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/03/07-eurogroup-statement-cyprus/

Eurogroup: Press Release, 07.03.16: Remarks by J. Dijsselbloem following the Eurogroup meeting of 7 March 2016 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/03/07-eurogroup-jd-remarks/

EurActiv, 08.03.16: Brussels piles pressure on Spain and Italy to balance their budgets http://www.euractiv.com/section/euro-finance/news/brussels-piles-pressure-on-spain-and-italy-to-balance-their-budgets/

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