Minister Donohoe travels to Greece and France as Eurogroup President to discuss European economy and the future of the EU

President of the Eurogroup and Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe T.D., is in Athens today, (Thursday, 4 July), where he will participate in the Annual Economist Government Roundtable. He will speak at a panel discussion on the European economy and will hold bilateral meetings with the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis; the Finance Minister, Kostis Hatzidakis; and the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Staikouras.

He will then travel to France where, on 5th July, he will give the keynote address at the annual conference of French Foreign Trade Advisors. He will also visit the recently opened Consulate General of Ireland in Lyon and hold a series of meetings with local business representatives. He will then participate in the Rencontres Économiques d’Aix-en-Provence, an economic forum organised by Le Cercle des économistes, which brings together business leaders, academics, international organisations, NGOs, politicians and students. He will speak at a panel session where he will give his perspective on possible future EU enlargement, the benefits of euro area membership and implications for economic growth and stability.

Ahead of his visit Minister Donohoe stated:

“I am very happy to have an opportunity to discuss the euro area economic outlook in a country which has been a real success story in recent years – Greece. I look forward to meeting with Prime Minister Mitsotakis, Minister Hatzidakis and Minister Staikouras to exchange views on our Eurogroup priorities in relation to fiscal coordination in view of budgetary preparations for next year.

"I am also very happy to be back at the Rencontres Économiques d’Aix-en-Provence economic forum in France, where I will be talking about the future of the euro area and the implications of a bigger EU for our economic policy coordination.”

ENDS