Speaking after the Eurogroup meeting held on 23 November in Brussels, Minister for Finance Edward Scicluna welcomed the Eurogroup’s approval as based on the European Commission’s assessment on the basis of the Draft Budgetary Plan for 2016 that Malta submitted to the Commission on 15 October 2015. “Overall, the Commission is of the opinion that the Draft Budgetary Plan of Malta is broadly compliant with the provisions of the Stability and Growth Pact,” Minister Scicluna remarked. He commented that “the Commission’s assessment is a realistic one and Malta stands ready to take any measures to ensure that the fiscal stance is maintained”.

 

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY FOR FINANCE

 

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Today’s meeting was intended to mainly discuss the Commission’s assessment of the Euro area member states draft budget plans for 2016. At the Eurogroup meeting, ministers also discussed the state of play in Greece. To this end, Finance Ministers formally endorsed the release of EUR 2 billion to Greece under the second disbursement of the country’s Financial Assistance Facility Agreement (FFA), following its successful fulfilment of the first set of milestones under the agreement.

 

 

For the meetings, the Minister for Finance was accompanied by the Finance Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Alfred Camilleri.

 

23rd November 2015