Press Release: Economic and Financial Affairs Council, Brussels, 14 March 2006

Items debated include: Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs - key issues paper; European Investment Bank contribution to promoting growth and jobs; Better regulation; Social protection and social inclusion; Stability and Convergence Programmes - Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Cyprus, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, United Kingdom; Excessive Deficit Procedure: Germany / Italy; EU Budget - Priorities for 2007, Discharge for 2004, Follow-up to the discharge for 2003; Macroeconomic dialogue at political level; Meeting with the European Parliament on the broad economic policy guidelines (BEPGs).