Eurogroup Not to Take Decision over Slovenia's Labour Force

Labour force mobility was highlighted as one of the measures that could boost the economy of the eurozone at Monday's meeting of the Eurogroup, which was also attended by Slovenia's Finance Minister Andrej Bajuk, for the first time after the country adopted the single currency.

I fully agree that there are some good and sound arguments regarding the possibility of opening up eurozone labour markets to Slovenian labour force, but I cannot see the Eurogroup taking any decision in that respect, the head of the group, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, said on Monday.

Yesterday, the Eurogroup also discussed the economic situation in the eurozone, with Joaquin Almunia, Commissioner responsible for Economic and Monetary Affairs, assessing it as distinctly positive. According to him, growth is expected to exceed the European Commission's autumn forecast.

Almunia also said that eurozone members generated two million new jobs last year. The unemployment rate was reduced to 7.6% in November, which the commissioner said was the best figure on Eurostat record.

All EU finance ministers are meeting in Brussels on Tuesday. They are expected to close the excessive deficit procedure concerning France.