European Peace Facility: Council increases the financial ceiling to nearly €7.98 billion until 2027

 

Press material Tuesday 14 March 2023

● Council of the EU   14/03/2023 10:28 | Press release | European Peace Facility: Council increases the financial ceiling to nearly €7.98 billion until 2027   The Council adopted a decision increasing the financial ceiling of the European Peace Facility (EPF) to €7.979 billion (in current prices) until 2027, ensuring that additional financial needs can be covered. "The European Peace Facility has now become an integral part of the EU’s support to promote peace and security globally. Today’s decision brings the financial ceiling of the European Peace Facility to over €7.9 billion. Ensuring the financial sustainability of this instrument is crucial for our support not only to Ukraine, but also for our partners in other parts of Europe, Africa and the Middle East, as needs continue to arise." Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security policy This decision implements the political agreement reached on 12 December 2022, when the Council decided to increase the overall EPF financial ceiling by €2 billion (in 2018 prices) in 2023, and allow for the possibility of a further increase at a later stage (up to €5.5 billion in 2018 prices until 2027). The Council also decided to set a financial reference amount for the common costs of the EU Crisis Management Military Exercise 2023 (MILEX 23) at €5 million and introduce more flexibility in the collection and use of financial contributions from member states and in their use by the facility. In its conclusions of 15 December 2022, the European Council reiterated the global dimension of the Facility and welcomed the agreement in the Council on 12 December 2022 to ensure its financial sustainability.

Ανάρτηση Ευάγγελου Βενιζέλου:"Γεωργίου κατά Ελλάδος. Τι σημαίνει η απόφαση του ΕΔΔΑ. Ένα αρχικό σχόλιο."

 

14 Μαρτίου 2023

 

Ανάρτηση Ευάγγελου Βενιζέλου

 

Γεωργίου κατά Ελλάδος. Τι σημαίνει η απόφαση του ΕΔΔΑ. Ένα αρχικό σχόλιο.

  

Η απόφαση του Ευρωπαϊκού Δικαστηρίου των Δικαιωμάτων του Ανθρώπου (ΕΔΔΑ) στην υπόθεση Γεωργίου κατά Ελλάδας που δημοσιεύθηκε σήμερα με προσφεύγοντα τον πρώην επικεφαλής της ΕΛΣΤΑΤ Ανδρέα Γεωργίου, που είναι εμβληματικό θύμα του τρόπου λειτουργίας του ελληνικού δικαστικού συστήματος, συνιστά κόλαφο και μάθημα στο όνομα του ευρωπαϊκού κράτους δικαίου.

Συνιστά κόλαφο και μάθημα κατά της ακατάβλητης αντιμνημονιακής συνωμοσιολογίας ως προς το ύψος του πρωτογενούς και του δημοσιονομικού ελλείμματος του 2009 και τους λόγους που οδήγησαν τη χώρα στη μακρά περιπέτεια των μνημονίων. Ο ισχυρισμός ότι δεν υπήρχε λόγος να προσφύγει η χώρα στα μνημόνια και ότι μαγειρεύτηκαν τα δημοσιονομικά δεδομένα του 2009, δεν υιοθετείται πλέον πολιτικά από κανέναν που διαθέτει στοιχειώδη σοβαρότητα. Εξακολουθεί όμως να βρίσκει υποστηρικτές στον χώρο της Ελληνικής Δικαιοσύνης. Το Εφετείο Αθηνών καταδίκασε το 2017 τον Ανδρέα Γεωργίου για παράβαση καθήκοντος και ο Άρειος Πάγος απέρριψε την αίτησή του για αναίρεση της καταδικαστικής απόφασης αρνούμενος να απευθύνει προδικαστικό ερώτημα στο Δικαστήριο της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης (ΔΕΕ) ως προς το νόημα της κρίσιμης διάταξης του Κανονισμού που διέπει την EUROSTAT και τις εθνικές στατιστικές αρχές.

Το  αίτημα του κατηγορουμένου να απευθυνθεί προδικαστικό ερώτημα στο ΔΕΕ  απορρίφθηκε χωρίς αιτιολογία.
 

Με τη σημερινή του απόφαση το ΕΔΔΑ διαπιστώνει ότι η Ελλάδα, με την παραπάνω απόφαση του Αρείου Πάγου, παραβίασε το άρθρο 6 παρ. 1 της ΕΣΔΑ, δηλαδή το δικαίωμα στη δίκαιη δίκη. Το ΕΔΔΑ επανέλαβε την πάγια νομολογία του σύμφωνα με την οποία η παράλειψη και μάλιστα η αναιτιολόγητη εθνικού δικαστηρίου κράτους μέλους της ΕΕ ( που είναι προφανώς και κράτος μέρος της ΕΣΔΑ και του Συμβουλίου της Ευρώπης) να απευθύνει προδικαστικό ερώτημα στο ΔΕΕ, παρότι έχει σχετική υποχρέωση κατά το άρθρο 267 ΣΛΕΕ (τέτοιο δικαστήριο είναι ο ΑΠ) και μάλιστα παρότι έχει υποβληθεί σχετικό αίτημα, συνιστά παραβίαση του άρθρου 6 παρ. 1 ΕΣΔΑ, δηλαδή του δικαιώματος στη δίκαιη δίκη. Ζήτημα ιδιαίτερα κρίσιμο για τη σχέση ΕΕ και ΕΣΔΑ.

 

Το ΕΣΔΑ δεν αφήνει μάλιστα  κανένα περιθώριο παρερμηνείας της απόφασής του. Περιέλαβε στην απόφασή του ειδικό κεφάλαιο για τον τρόπο με τον οποίο η Ελλάδα οφείλει κατά το άρθρο 46 ΕΣΔΑ να συμμορφωθεί προς την απόφαση του Στρασβούργου. Αυτό πρέπει να γίνει με την επανάληψη της διαδικασίας (reopening) ενώπιον του ΑΠ, ο όποιος οφείλει να απευθύνει το κρίσιμο προδικαστικό ερώτημα στο ΔΕΕ. Θεωρητικά ο ΑΠ θα μπορούσε να αιτιολογήσει τη φορά αυτή την απόρριψη του αιτήματος να υποβληθεί προδικαστικό ερώτημα στο Λουξεμβούργο, ας ελπίσουμε όμως ότι μια άλλη σύνθεση του αρμόδιου σχηματισμού του ΑΠ θα διαφυλάξει, έστω στο όριο, την στοιχειώδη διεθνή αξιοπιστία της Ελληνικής Δικαιοσύνης.

Think Tank reports on the invasion of Ukraine

 

Library blog Tuesday 14 March 2023

● General Secretariat of the Council   Think Tank reports on the invasion of Ukraine   Security guarantees for Ukraine in case of any settlement of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict; how to support Ukraine in 2023 to win the war against Russia; possible scenarios for the future development of the war; how successful have Western sanctions against Russia actually been; satellite wars over Ukraine; the war that changed the world, one year on, and the EU trade policy; why the EU should address new geoeconomic realities and get its neighbours back in the fold; and who is funding Russia’s war in Ukraine are some of the topics discussed in this update.

Think Tank reports on the invasion of Ukraine

• 14 March 2023
 
• Think Tank Review
 
• gsclibrary

This is a non-exhaustive collection of Think Tanks reports on the invasion of Ukraine, covering the period from February 2022 onwards, which is regularly updated:

 

14.03.2023

Centre for Eastern studies

New Ukraine: a breakthrough at great cost

The article analyses the process of identity transformation of Ukrainians accelerated by the Russian invasion. Ukrainians’ turn towards their native history, culture and language as well as rejection of the belief in Russia’s supremacy comes, however, at a high price, with economic ruin and war trauma.

Terra nova

La paix, c'est la guerre: faut-il négocier maintenant avec Poutine?

Συνάντηση Πρωθυπουργού Κυριάκου Μητσοτάκη με τον Πρόεδρο της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας Νίκο Χριστοδουλίδη

13 Μαρτίου 2023

Ο Πρωθυπουργός Κυριάκος Μητσοτάκης συναντήθηκε στο Μέγαρο Μαξίμου με τον Πρόεδρο της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας Νίκο Χριστοδουλίδη, ο οποίος πραγματοποιεί επίσημη επίσκεψη στην Ελλάδα, την πρώτη επίσημη επίσκεψη στο εξωτερικό μετά την εκλογή του.

Κατά τη διάρκεια της συνάντησης επιβεβαιώθηκε ότι το Κυπριακό παραμένει κορυφαία προτεραιότητα της εξωτερικής πολιτικής της Ελλάδας, καθώς και η διαρκής συνεργασία και ο συντονισμός με την Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία.

Η βούληση εμβάθυνσης της συνεργασίας σε όλους τους τομείς με αιχμή τους τομείς της ενέργειας, της ναυτιλίας, της προστασίας του περιβάλλοντος, επισφραγίστηκε με την ανακοίνωση από τους δύο ηγέτες της θεσμοθέτησης Ανωτάτου Συμβουλίου Συνεργασίας Ελλάδας-Κύπρου.

Ο Κυριάκος Μητσοτάκης χαιρέτισε τη δήλωση του Προέδρου της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας ότι θα κάνει ό,τι είναι δυνατόν για την επανέναρξη των συνομιλιών και τη δημιουργία προϋποθέσεων επίλυσης του Κυπριακού. Ο Πρωθυπουργός επανέλαβε την προσήλωση Ελλάδας και Κύπρου στον κοινό στόχο της επανεκκίνησης διαπραγματεύσεων, στο πλαίσιο των Αποφάσεων των Ηνωμένων Εθνών. Ο Νίκος Χριστοδουλίδης ενημέρωσε τον Πρωθυπουργό για τις τελευταίες εξελίξεις στο Κυπριακό και για την ανάγκη ενεργότερης εμπλοκής της Ε.Ε. στο ζήτημα.

Η ενημέρωση από τον Κυβερνητικό Εκπρόσωπο, Γιάννη Οικονόμου

Καλό μεσημέρι.

Η τραγωδία που εκτυλίχθηκε στα Τέμπη έχει κλονίσει βαθιά την ελληνική κοινωνία, η οποία προσπαθεί να διαχειριστεί τα συναισθήματα πόνου, απόγνωσης, αγανάκτησης και οργής. Αυτό δεν είναι σίγουρα εύκολο και θα χρειαστεί χρόνος. Είναι όμως υποχρέωση όλου του πολιτικού προσωπικού αυτής της χώρας από τη μια να ακούσει με προσοχή, με σεβασμό, με υπευθυνότητα τις απαιτήσεις της κοινωνίας και από την άλλη να συμβάλλει γόνιμα και ορθά, έτσι ώστε οι Έλληνες πολίτες να πάρουν τις απαιτούμενες απαντήσεις και να δουν ότι αντιμετωπίζουμε τα προβλήματα με ειλικρίνεια και αυτοκριτική, αλλά και με αγώνα για την υπέρβασή τους.

Το τραγικό δυστύχημα στα Τέμπη και άλλα αντίστοιχα περιστατικά στο σχετικά πρόσφατο παρελθόν αποδεικνύουν τις δομικές παθογένειες στο Κράτος μας. Αυτές, όμως, για να είμαστε ειλικρινείς, δεν δημιουργήθηκαν μόνες τους, ούτε το τελευταίο διάστημα. Προέκυψαν είτε από άστοχες ενέργειες, είτε από χρόνιες παθογένειες, είτε από παραλείψεις και αδιαφορία.

Αν θέλουμε να είμαστε ειλικρινείς και χρήσιμοι στον τόπο μας, χρειάζεται να μην κρυφτούμε πίσω από το δάχτυλό μας όσον αφορά στις αιτίες που μας έφεραν αντιμέτωπους με αυτό το πολύ δύσκολο παρόν.  Η αλήθεια σώζει και χωρίς αυτήν δεν θα πάμε ούτε ένα βήμα μπροστά.

NSF interesting latest

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NSF Panelist Opportunity: Complete a Panelist Survey to Review for the National Science Foundation

 

View as a webpage   Greetings,  NSF’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) is recruiting panelists for the EPSCoR Research Fellows funding opportunity, under solicitation NSF 23-535, which has a deadline of April 11, 2023.     This opportunity provides early- and mid-career investigators support for extended travel to a host site to establish or strengthen research collaborations, learn new techniques and / or access state of the art facilities.    For this year’s competition, you are invited to complete a reviewer recruitment survey to assist with the process of setting up merit review panels.  To be considered, please complete the survey that can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PH78GNW.     Please note that panelist selection will be guided by proposal topics.  Panelists will be asked to write reviews before the panel meeting.  If you are not selected for this year’s competition, you may be contacted for future competitions.    Thank you in advance for completing the survey by April 21, 2023.  Sincerely,  The NSF EPSCoR Team

Additional Resources WHO IS NSF? For more than 70 years the U.S National Science Foundation has funded basic research that has transformed our lives. For a glimpse into who we are and what we do, watch this video.   WEBSITE For special resources, galleries and a closer look at our various research areas, visit our website. MOBILE APP For hundreds of exciting videos and high resolution photos from a dozen areas of science, download the NSF Science Zone app.   FACT SHEETS Concise, factual summaries describing NSF at a Glance, By the Numbers, or other science topics, please visit this page. This email was sent to politikimx@gmail.com using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: National Science Foundation · 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314 · 703-292-5111

Federal Reserve Board Notification

Federal Reserve Board announces that Vice Chair for Supervision Michael S. Barr is leading a review of the supervision and regulation of Silicon Valley Bank, in light of its failure https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/bcreg20230313a.htm Released by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Joint Statement by Treasury, Federal Reserve, and FDIC https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20230312b.htm Released by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Federal Reserve Board announces it will make available additional funding to eligible depository institutions to help assure banks have the ability to meet the needs of all their depositors https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20230312a.htm Released by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Federal Reserve announces members of its Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council (CDIAC) for 2023 https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/other20230309a.htm Released by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Visit us on the web at Federal Reserve Board.

KREMLIN'S Weekly information newsletter .

Weekly information newsletter .

March 6 − 13, 2023

Culture

Greetings on the opening of the tenth Trans-Siberian Art FestivalMarch 8, 2023, 13:00

NATO SUMMIT

 

Press Release 13 March 2023

NATO SUMMIT Vilnius, Lithuania – 11-12 July 2023 First media advisory Lithuania will host a NATO Summit in Vilnius on 11-12 July 2023. The meetings will be chaired by the NATO Secretary General, and will take place at LITEXPO - Lithuanian Exhibition and Congress Centre (Laisvės av. 5, 04215, Vilnius). An international Media Centre will be located on site and will be open for accredited media. The Accreditation Office will be located at the Visitor Centre of the Seimas (Gediminas av. 60, Vilnius). The access to the Media Centre will be possible via shuttle bus only, from the Accreditation Office. This first media advisory is intended to provide general information about the Summit location and accommodation arrangements for media representatives, to guide media travel plans. A second media advisory to be released at a later stage will provide information on a broader array of media-related topics, including media accreditation. A list of hotels recommended for media representatives is available here. Individual reservations shall be booked directly with the hotels. Further information can be asked from NATO-Vilnius_Hotels@urm.lt. The programme of the summit is not yet finalised. Currently, and in order to guide media travel plans, NATO is working on a tentative programme that would see the Summit’s formal opening in the afternoon on July 11, and its end in the afternoon on July 12 2023. The NATO Public Forum will take place on 11-12 July 2023 at the Summit’s premises in Vilnius. More details on the program and coverage will be available at a later stage. All updates will be posted on the NATO website: www.nato.int. Updates will also be posted on twitter @NATOPress and @NATO. Contact form

Αρχή Προστασίας Δεδομένων Προσωπικού Χαρακτήρα..."Προωθώντας την ευαισθητοποίηση κρίσιμων κοινωνικών και επαγγελματικών ομάδων"

byDefault Newsletter, Issue 1, February 2023:

https://bydefault-project.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Newsletter_v1.pdf 

Στο πλαίσιο των αρμοδιοτήτων της για την ευαισθητοποίηση υπευθύνων επεξεργασίας και εκτελούντων την επεξεργασία σχετικά με τη νομοθεσία για την προστασία των δεδομένων προσωπικού χαρακτήρα, η Αρχή ξεκίνησε την υλοποίηση ενός νέου έργου με τίτλο «Ενήμεροι εξ ορισμού: προωθώντας την ευαισθητοποίηση κρίσιμων κοινωνικών και επαγγελματικών ομάδων (παιδιά και επαγγελματίες προστασίας δεδομένων) - byDefault» (https://bydefault-project.eu/).

Όπως και στο προηγούμενο έργο (byDesign), η υλοποίηση πραγματοποιείται από κοινού με το Πανεπιστήμιο Πειραιώς και την εταιρεία πληροφορικής ABOVO με συγχρηματοδότηση από την Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή.

Ένας από τους βασικούς στόχους του έργου είναι η δημιουργία ηλεκτρονικής πλατφόρμας συνεργασίας και ανταλλαγής απόψεων των επαγγελματιών του χώρου της προστασίας δεδομένων, όπως είναι οι υπεύθυνοι προστασίας δεδομένων (DPO), οι επαγγελματίες με σχετικό αντικείμενο, οι επαγγελματίες πληροφορικής που συμμετέχουν/υλοποιούν σχετικά έργα κ.ο.κ. Η πλατφόρμα, που θα λειτουργεί με την καθοδήγηση και υπό την εποπτεία της Αρχής Προστασίας Δεδομένων, αποσκοπεί στην ανταλλαγή εξειδικευμένης γνώσης σε θεματικούς τομείς, ώστε να διευκολύνεται η πρακτική εφαρμογή των αρχών της προστασίας δεδομένων. Παράλληλα, η Αρχή θα λαμβάνει ανατροφοδότηση από την πλατφόρμα, η οποία θα συνεκτιμάται κατά την κατάρτιση του προγράμματος εργασιών της, για την παροχή ειδικότερης καθοδήγησης, όταν κρίνεται αναγκαίο.

Ο δεύτερος βασικός στόχος του έργου είναι η δημιουργία ενός ολοκληρωμένου εκπαιδευτικού προγράμματος με σκοπό την καλλιέργεια της νοοτροπίας για την προστασία των προσωπικών δεδομένων από μικρή ηλικία. Το πρόγραμμα θα απευθύνεται σε μαθητές της πρωτοβάθμιας και δευτεροβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης, εξασφαλίζοντας παράλληλα αντίστοιχη εκπαίδευση και υποστήριξη στους εκπαιδευτικούς, ώστε να είναι σε θέση να το χρησιμοποιούν στο πλαίσιο της εργασίας τους.

Το πρώτο newsletter του έργου byDefault περιλαμβάνει γενικές πληροφορίες σχετικά με το νέο έργο, τους στόχους του, την έναρξη των εργασιών και τη συσχέτισή του με τα προηγούμενα έργα που έχει αναλάβει και ολοκληρώσει η Αρχή (TRAIN-GR-CY και byDesign).

Με εκτίμηση,

Η Oμάδα υλοποίησης του έργου byDefault (Twitter, LinkedIn)

Αρχή Προστασίας Δεδομένων Προσωπικού Χαρακτήρα

Κηφισίας 1-3, Τ.Κ. 115 23, Αθήνα

Τηλέφωνο: 210 6475600

Email: contact@dpa.gr

www.dpa.gr

ΕUROGROUP OF 13 MARCH 2023:all latest

 

Meetings Monday 13 March 2023

● Eurogroup   13/03/2023 21:53 | MEETING | Main results - Eurogroup, 13 March 2023   The Eurogroup adopted a statement on fiscal policy guidance. It exchanged views on inflation developments and on the strategic policy objectives of a digital euro. It also took work forward on the euro area-related aspects of the economic governance review.

Eurogroup
Eurogroup, 13 March 2023

Highlights from the Eurogroup meeting held in Brussels on 13 March 2023
Main results
Macroeconomic and fiscal developments in the euro area

The Eurogroup took stock of macroeconomic and fiscal developments in the euro area and exchanged views on the fiscal policy guidance for 2023 and 2024. On 8 March, the Commission adopted a communication providing member states with guidance on the conduct and coordination of fiscal policy in 2024.

The Eurogroup adopted a statement on fiscal policy guidance.



We agreed that fiscal policies should aim to ensure debt sustainability in the medium term while raising growth potential in a sustainable manner. We did recognise the need to address the green and digital transitions, but sent out important signals regarding the design of budgetary measures and the need to avoid permanent deficit increasing measures as an important element in preparation for budgets for next year.Paschal Donohoe, President of the EurogroupEurogroup statement on the fiscal guidance for 2024
Communication from the Commission of 8 March 2023
European Semester: a guide to the main rules and documents (background information)
Economic governance framework (background information)
Preparation of international meetings

Ministers discussed key issues for global economic policy coordination, in preparation for the upcoming spring meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund. This included the standard stocktaking of exchange rate developments over past months.

In addition, the Commission briefed the Eurogroup on the February G7 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors.World Bank
International Monetary Fund
Inflation developments in the euro area

The Eurogroup exchanged views on inflation developments, including drivers of inflation in the euro area and the situation in individual member states. The discussion built on a note from the Commission services, a secretariat issues note and the views of the European Central Bank.


This topic is never absent from our policy discussions, and today was an opportunity to take a deeper dive into the inflation figures, to look at the Commission's analysis, to take stock of a range of price pressures that are lingering even after energy prices have come down from their peak levels; and it also provided a further political opportunity for ministers to share their experiences in dealing with this great challenge and also to further develop best practice.Paschal Donohoe, President of the EurogroupTechnical note on inflation in the euro area and the EU
Economic governance review

The Eurogroup returned to the euro area-related aspects of the economic governance review (EGR), and it endorsed the euro area-related parts of the draft Council conclusions on the EGR.Economic governance framework (background information)
Digital euro

Building on the statement agreed by the Eurogroup on 16 January, ministers exchanged views on the strategic policy objectives of a digital euro based on a secretariat issues note.


After many months of assessing the potential design of a digital euro ministers wanted to reflect on the bigger picture again ahead of a legislative proposal from the Commission and the ECB decision on whether to move to the next phase. We noted the reasons why the digital euro is a high priority for our monetary union. These issues involve matters such as consumer preferences, providing a public good in the form of pan-European payment solutions and how we can preserve and deepen European monetary and economic autonomy. We also confirmed that we will continue our work to provide a solid democratic and political basis for that project, and we touched upon some of the implications of granting legal tender status to the digital euro.Paschal Donohoe, President of the EurogroupIssues note on digital euro
Eurogroup statement on the digital euro project (press release, 16 January 2023)
Digital finance (background information)


Meeting information

Brussels
13 March 2023
15:00
Preparatory documentsIssues note on the digital euro
Technical note on inflation in the euro area and the EU
Draft agenda, Eurogroup
Draft annotated agenda, Eurogroup
Outcome documentsList of participants

● Eurogroup   13/03/2023 16:36 | Press release | Eurogroup statement on the fiscal guidance for 2024   The euro area economy has recovered strongly following the pandemic and has weathered the consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, in particular regarding the energy price shock. The economy entered 2023 on a healthier footing than previously expected despite high inflation. Energy prices have decreased significantly compared to the peak of last summer, even though they are still high by historical standards. Headline inflation appears to have peaked but is set to remain elevated for some time, with core inflation still moving upwards. Labour markets are performing strongly, with the unemployment rate at record low levels. Growth is nevertheless expected to remain subdued in 2023, and to pick-up gradually in 2024. While uncertainty surrounding the outlook, notably in relation to geopolitical and energy related factors, remains elevated, risks to growth appear more balanced than previously. This reinforces the need for fiscal policy to remain agile going forward. In providing forward-looking orientations for our budgetary policy, we take note of the Commission Communication of 8 March 2023 on fiscal guidance for 2024. We agree that over 2023-24, prudent fiscal policies should aim at ensuring medium-term debt sustainability, while raising potential growth in a sustainable manner and addressing the green and digital transitions and resilience objectives through investment and reforms. Fiscal policy will help to ensure the stability of the euro area economy and facilitate the effective transmission of monetary policy in a high inflation environment. In light of economic prospects and in a context of high inflation and tighter financing conditions, we reiterate that broad-based fiscal stimulus to aggregate demand is not warranted. We will therefore closely monitor the impact on aggregate demand and on the fiscal stance of additional energy support measures or the prolongation of existing ones, while also taking into account the uncertainty of the evolution of energy prices. We should avoid permanent deficit-increasing measures. Given the strong spill-overs in energy markets and for the euro area economies, we will coordinate our measures to preserve the level playing field and the integrity of the single market. Our measures so far have mitigated the initial excessive impact of the energy price shock on businesses and consumers, however, the fiscal costs weigh on public finances. We are gradually transitioning from broad-based support to more targeted measures with improved design, efficiency and affordability. Absent renewed price shocks, we will continue to phase out energy support measures, which would also contribute to reducing government deficits. Looking forward, we are determined to continue our coordination efforts ahead of next winter. To the extent further efforts are needed, we will continue to protect the most vulnerable households and viable firms, while preserving incentives to limit energy consumption and increasing energy efficiency. The only lasting solution to the energy crisis is to continue reducing the dependence on fossil fuels. In this context, we will focus on ensuring the timely implementation of reforms and investments, also in the framework of the Recovery and Resilience Facility and REPowerEU. We will continue our discussions on fiscal policy coordination in the euro area.

● Eurogroup   13/03/2023 20:28 | Statements and remarks | Remarks by Paschal Donohoe following the Eurogroup meeting of 13 March 2023   We had a series of good discussions. We began by welcoming our new colleague from Cyprus, Minister Makis Keravnos, who updated us on the priorities of the new Cypriot government. We then moved on to a discussion on fiscal strategy for 2024, in light of the economic situation and the guidance in last week's communication from the Commission. You all have seen that we adopted a statement reflecting our strategic view on fiscal guidance for next year. This has become a key element of policy coordination in the Eurogroup as we discuss budgetary preparations and is an important ingredient into our national work. We agreed that fiscal policies should aim to ensure debt sustainability in the medium term while raising growth potential in a sustainable manner. We did recognise the need to address the green and digital transitions, but sent out important signals regarding the design of budgetary measures and the need to avoid permanent deficit increasing measures as an important element in preparation for budgets for next year. The discussion also saw broad recognition that there are two distinct issues: first, the agreement of our Eurogroup statement that was just published, and second, the discussion on changes to the economic governance framework, which is well underway. Our second item today was the preparation for international meetings. Commissioner Gentiloni debriefed us on the February G7 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors, and we looked ahead to the April spring meetings that will take place in Washington. More than ever, it is important for us to have a common understanding of the key issues for the euro area as we participate in policy discussions with policymakers from all around the world. And there continues to be full consensus within the Eurogroup on exchange rate developments. We then moved on to a discussion on inflation. This topic is never absent from our policy discussions, and today was an opportunity to take a deeper dive into the inflation figures, to look at the Commission's analysis, to take stock of a range of price pressures that are lingering even after energy prices have come down from their peak levels; and it also provided a further political opportunity for ministers to share their experiences in dealing with this great challenge and also to further develop best practice. We then had a short discussion on the euro area specific elements of the economic governance review, notably with regard to draft budgetary plans and macroeconomic imbalances. It was a short discussion because we reached consensus on those particular elements and the ECOFIN Council conclusions tomorrow will contain a paragraph reflecting our common view. We then concluded our planned agenda items with a strategic discussion on the digital euro. This built on the statement we adopted in January and after many months of assessing the potential design of a digital euro ministers wanted to reflect on the bigger picture again ahead of a legislative proposal from the Commission and the ECB decision on whether to move to the next phase. We noted the reasons why the digital euro is a high priority for our monetary union. These issues involve matters such as consumer preferences, providing a public good in the form of pan-European payment solutions and how we can preserve and deepen European monetary and economic autonomy. We also confirmed that we will continue our work to provide a solid democratic and political basis for that project, and we touched upon some of the implications of granting legal tender status to the digital euro. Finally, we discussed the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank in the United States, a situation that we continue to monitor carefully. The problems arise from the specific business model of the Silicon Valley Bank, and the picture here in Europe is very different. Our banks are overall in good shape. We have strengthened them enormously in recent years, and they are under the close supervision of national and European authorities, and the Basel framework is being applied to all EU banks. There is no direct exposure, therefore, to Silicon Valley Bank, but this is a reminder to us that shocks to the banking system can emerge at any time, how important it is to ensure the resilience of our banking system and how important, of course, it is to continue with our efforts to strengthen Banking Union.