Brussels briefing, March 16

Due to the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), the Conference of Presidents (EP President and political leaders) modified the European Parliament's calendar of activities.

Committee meetings and other official activities that were initially planned this week have either been postponed or canceled.

Finance ministers of euro area countries will hold a teleconference meeting on Monday. The Eurogroup will discuss inflation and exchange rate developments over the past months and discuss the fifth enhanced surveillance report on Greece.

Ministers of the 27 EU member states will meet in an inclusive format on Monday to take stock of the economic situation and discuss responses to the economic policy challenges related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Ministers will discuss work on the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) package of reforms and the early introduction of the common backstop.

The economic and Financial Affairs Council will conduct a teleconference meeting on Tuesday. This is anticipated to cover discussions on the capital markets union. The European Commission will also present its 2020 country reports and in-depth reviews and ministers will exchange views on the implementation of the country-specific recommendations.