Luxembourg, 9 October 2025 — Ireland’s Minister for Finance and President of the Eurogroup, Paschal Donohoe, is attending the October meetings of the Eurogroup and the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) in Luxembourg, where he will chair key discussions and represent Ireland on a range of fiscal and economic matters.
Eurogroup Agenda
On Thursday, Minister Donohoe will lead the Eurogroup in both its regular and inclusive formats. Topics include:
- Macroeconomic and fiscal developments ahead of the upcoming IMF and World Bank meetings in Washington, D.C.
- A presentation on Ireland’s Auto Enrolment pension reform, shared as part of best practice exchanges under the Capital Markets Union.
- A policy discussion on stablecoin developments and digital financial stability.
- Preparations for the October Euro Summit.
ECOFIN Priorities
Friday’s ECOFIN meeting opens with a working breakfast focused on the economic situation in Ukraine and a debrief from the Eurogroup. The formal session will address:
- The European Commission’s proposals on tobacco excise duties and EU Budget Own Resources.
- Updates from the Danish Presidency and Commission on financial services legislation.
- Approval of Germany’s Medium-Term Fiscal-Structural Plan, including activation of the National Escape Clause for defence spending.
- Review of the Savings and Investment Account Recommendation, aimed at simplifying retail investment access across the EU.
- Exchange of views on simplification and impact assessments in EU legislative processes.
- Adoption of Council Conclusions on climate finance ahead of COP30.
- Approval of targeted amendments to Spain’s Recovery and Resilience Plan.
- Finalisation of the EU Statement to the IMF’s International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) and G20 Terms of Reference.
Minister’s Remarks
Ahead of the meetings, Minister Donohoe stated:
“I look forward to engaging with my fellow EU Finance Ministers over the next two days in Luxembourg. These meetings offer a vital opportunity to shape Europe’s economic response to global challenges and share national innovations that strengthen our collective resilience.”
Outlook
The October Eurogroup and ECOFIN meetings come at a pivotal moment for EU fiscal coordination, with global economic uncertainty, digital finance regulation, and climate funding high on the agenda. Ireland’s leadership role through Minister Donohoe underscores its active engagement in shaping the future of European financial governance.
Sources: Department of Finance; Eurogroup Secretariat; European Council.
