At their meeting in Nice, chaired by Christine Lagarde, the EU economy and finance ministers and governors of the central banks agreed on a joint response to confront the economic slowdown and restore confidence in the financial markets.

Discussions to focus on how to respond to the slowdown in growth and on strengthening financial stability.

This Eurogroup meeting, chaired by Jean-Claude Juncker, will bring together the 15 finance ministers of the eurozone, the President of the European Central Bank and representatives from the European Commission.

Juncker’s reelection was announced by Christine Lagarde, the French economy minister and current chair of the Ecofin council, in a press conference following the Eurogroup meeting.

The Eurofi think tank is holding a seminar on financial services on 10 - 12 September.

The annual conference of the European Microfinance Network will be held in Nice from 8 to 10 September and will be organised in partnership with EUROFI, a think tank dedicated to financial integration in Europe. It builds on the extension of measures taken by the European Parliament and Commission in support of micro-credit.

The Economic and Financial Affairs Council is meeting on Thursday 17 July in Brussels, under the presidency of Eric Woerth, the French Minister for the Budget, Public Accounts and the Civil Service.

On Thursday 17 July, Eric Woerth chaired the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Budget) in Brussels.

The European Industry Day aims to focus on major European industrial issues during two round-tables, bringing together players from European industry.     

The chairpersons of the Economic Affairs commissions came together for an interparliamentary meeting which was held in the National Assembly on 10 July on the subject of transport and sustainable development.

The ECOFIN Council will meet on 8 July, chaired by Christine Lagarde, the Minister for the Economy, Industry and Employment.

The first ECOFIN Council of the French Presidency produced the following results:
- Slovakia's adoption of the euro;
- advances in two key areas: oil and financial stability

On July 8, the ECOFIN Council, chaired by Christine Lagarde, French Minister for the Economy, Industry and Employment, approved the legal acts that will allow Slovakia to adopt the single currency on 1 January 2009.

The "Paris Declaration" on the evolution of the role of European customs was officially adopted during the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the European Customs Union.

The Customs Union celebrates its 40th anniversary on 1 July 2008.

Business people from the South are keen to show that they are the best ambassadors for the construction of the Euro-Mediterranean region. The economy has made Europe - it will do the same for the Mediterranean Union.

First ministerial meeting of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Euromed Trade conference brings together 27 EU ministers and 13 Mediterranean partners.