Economic and Financial Affairs Council

G20

The Council approved the EU’s mandate for the G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors of 17-18 April 2024. The Council also approved an EU statement for the International Monetary and Financial Committee.

Other business 

Under any other business the European Chief Prosecutor presented the work of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), in particular as regards detecting and bringing to justice large-scale criminal networks which committed national and transnational VAT fraud. She thanked member states’ taxation and customs authorities for their valuable help in reporting suspicions of fraud. This led to the exposure and dismantling of cross-border criminal networks which had damaged the EU budget as well as national budgets to the extent of €11 billion. 

The EPPO is the EU’s first independent and decentralised prosecution office. It has the power to investigate, prosecute and bring to judgment crimes against the EU budget, such as fraud, corruption or serious cross-border VAT fraud. 

Items without discussion

Under items without discussion, the Council adopted a decision for urgent short-term macro-financial assistance for an overall amount of € 1 billion in loans to Egypt to help the country stabilise its economy.

The Council adopted a decision increasing the EU’s shares in the capital of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). This capital increase should ensure the Bank’s support for resilience and reconstruction in Ukraine beyond 2023 and the continued support in all of its countries of operation.

The Council also adopted the other legislative and non-legislative acts on the list of A-items below.