The Lithuania Ministry of Finance said Finance Minister Kristupas Vaitiekunas will use ECOFIN and Eurogroup meetings in Brussels to discuss stronger EU cooperation against VAT fraud, with Lithuania supporting proposals to give the European Public Prosecutor’s Office and the European Anti-Fraud Office direct and centralised access to VAT data across the EU. The ministry presented the measure as a way to reduce opportunities for international fraud and strengthen protection of the EU’s financial interests. ECOFIN will also review the agreement on a EUR 90 billion EU support loan for Ukraine for 2026-2027 and the Council Implementing Decision on assistance for Ukraine’s Financing Strategy. Another key agenda item is the European Commission’s Market Integration and Supervision Package, under which ministers will discuss giving the European Securities and Markets Authority direct supervisory functions over the largest cross-border market infrastructures and service providers, including significant trading venues, central counterparties, central securities depositories and all crypto asset service providers. Changes to ESMA’s governance, decision-making procedures, the role of national supervisors and funding will also be considered. At the Eurogroup, ministers will discuss the state of play of the Banking Union, possible risks for the EU banking sector, cross-border banking consolidation and competitiveness, and the economic impact of the Middle East crisis alongside possible countermeasures in the context of high energy prices. They will also take note of the FIVE report on financing innovative ventures in Europe, review progress in digital finance and consider possible next steps.

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