EU Finance Ministers of the eurozone met on 9 October 2017 in Luxembourg to discuss possible future roles and tasks of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) in the context of the ongoing broader debate on the future of the Economic and Monetary Union.
Financing labour tax cuts and the post-programme surveillance mission to Portugal were also discussed but Greece was not on the agenda for the first time in a long time. Jeroen Dijsselbloem, responding to a question after the meeting said the agreement on the Greek 86-billion-euro bailout was “solid” and could not be changed by a new government (in Germany).
This was the last meeting Mr Schaeuble attended as German finance minister and the leader of the eurogroup stressed that Angela Merkel’s new coalition government, and her new Finance minister will not make a difference to the Greek programme.
Holland is also expected to announce the formation of a coalition government Tuesday, following 208 days of negotiations after the Dutch elections. Mr Dijsselbloem is expected to be replaces as finance minister but it remains to be seen if he will retain his position in the Eurogroup
