Items on the agenda are as follows:

Price Stability Criterion—Finance Ministers will be briefed on the application of the price stability criterion used for assessing entry to the euro.

Stability and Growth Pact—Council will receive Commission communications regarding Germany and the UK, and will be invited to adopt an opinion on the updated Convergence Programme for Hungary and a Council Recommendation under Article 104(7).

Energy, Innovation, Financial Stability Arrangements and Working Methods—Finance Ministers will be invited to adopt conclusions taking into account the discussions held at the Informal ECOFIN Council meeting in Helsinki on 8-9 September.

Better Regulations, administrative burdens—Council will be invited to adopt conclusions to support the Commission’s approach to measuring and reducing administrative burdens resulting from EU legislation.

The Quality of Public Finances—Ministers will be invited to adopt conclusions on a report regarding the design of national fiscal rules and institutions in EU member states.

EIB External Lending Mandates—Following an initial debate at the July ECOFIN, Council will continue to discuss issues relating to the renewal of the EIB’s mandate for the lending it carries out outside the EU.

Clearing and Settlement—Ministers will hold an exchange of views on the Commission’s approach to tackling barriers in the clearing and settlement industry.

Single Euro Payments Area—Council will be invited to adopt conclusions on the single euro payments area initiative, which will deliver a common system for cross-border payments in euro.