The challenges facing the European economy dominated the agenda of the first meeting of EU finance ministers held under the Cyprus Presidency, chaired by Finance Minister Makis Keravnos in Brussels on Tuesday.
Speaking after Thursday’s Cabinet meeting, Keravnos said the Council of Ministers addressed a series of major issues, describing the discussions as substantive and wide-ranging.
“This first Council meeting under the Presidency dealt with serious matters,” he said, pointing to the overall course of the European economy and the pressures it continues to face.
Among the key topics discussed was the implementation of the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, which Keravnos described as a particularly important programme for the bloc, as it encompasses core development spending. He noted that the programme expires in mid-2026 and that its management from this point onward falls under the responsibility of the Cyprus Presidency.
The meeting also included discussion on the continuation of financial support to Ukraine, in light of the ongoing needs arising from the Russian invasion, as well as an initial exchange of views on broader international developments.
Keravnos said this latter discussion focused in particular on Greenland, an issue that is currently engaging EU member states and their finance ministers ahead of talks scheduled for later on Thursday among EU leaders.
Source: CNA