France wants clarity on Dutch minister’s eurozone vision

The expected appointment of Dutch finance minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem as chairman of the influential euro group is likely to be delayed because France wants more information about his vision for the eurozone.


French finance minister Pierre Moscovici said in an interview with German paper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung it is not clear what Dijsselbloem’s vision is.
A decision on a new chairman for the euro group to succeed Jean-Claude Juncker had been expected at Monday’s EU finance ministers’ meeting.
Growth
Moscovici told the paper he wants to know how Dijsselbloem envisages maintaining the eurozone in its present form, improve the prospects for economic growth and further develop banking union. ‘If I vote in my own country, I want to know the candidates’ programmes,’ he said.
According to the Financieele Dagblad, Moscovici also said no decision about Juncker’s replacement can be taken on Monday because a formal nomination procedure has not been started. That will be on the agenda in February at the earliest.
Last week Dijsselbloem went on a tour of other European capitals after emerging as the front runner to take over from Juncker, despite being virtually unknown outside the Netherlands.
A social democrat with little financial experience, Dijsselbloem has been a minister since the formation of the new Dutch government in October last year.
Earlier stories
Dutch minister poised to get European top job

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