Estonian finmin to attend Eurogroup, ECOFIN meetings in Brussels

TALLINN - Estonian Minister of Finance Toomas Toniste and deputy secretary general of the Estonian Ministry of Finance Marten Ross are to attend a meeting of the finance ministers of the euro area (Eurogroup) in Brussels on Monday and a meeting of the EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) on Tuesday.

The agenda for the Eurogroup meeting includes the main findings of the second enhanced surveillance mission to Greece and a discussion on the housing markets in the eurozone, spokespeople for the Estonian Ministry of Finance said. Housing markets developments are of key relevance for macroeconomic stability, and thus for the economic resilience of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).

The Eurogroup in inclusive format will also exchange views on the features of the budgetary instrument for convergence and competitiveness for the euro area, and European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM II) member states on a voluntary basis, with a focus on expenditure related aspects.

The meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council is to include a policy debate on the digital services tax as well as on excise duties on alcohol and alcoholic beverages.

Additionally, the ministers will discuss InvestEU, a proposed program aimed at bringing together a range of EU financial instruments currently available to support investment and innovation and creating jobs in the EU. The ministers are also expected to discuss the open point of the location of InvestEU's investment committee.

Finally, the European Commission will present its annual assessment of the economic and social situation of each member state for 2019. Ministers will then exchange views on the implementation of country-specific recommendations focusing on investments.