The appointment is subject to “horse-trading” among member state governments, as a number of top EU positions open up over the next two years, Bloomberg said on 9 October.
Working in Gramegna’s favour, Bloomberg wrote, is the fact that Luis de Guindos, Spain’s finance minister, is in the running to be named vice president of the European Central Bank; Slovakia’s Peter Kazimir is seen by “some EU officials” as lacking “the clout and diplomatic flair needed” to take over the role; the French already hold the top economic and finance job at the European Commission; and Italians head the European Central Bank and European Parliament.
On the other hand, a Luxembourger, Jean-Claude Juncker, is chief at the European Commission.
In post since 2013
Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the outgoing Dutch finance minister, has presided over Eurogroup meetings since 2013. He will step down from the post in January.
The role involves chairing regular meetings of euro area finance ministers and representing the euro zone with other EU and international institutions.
Gramegna has been the DP-appointed finance minister since 2013. Previously he had been managing director of the Chamber of Commerce and Luxembourg’s ambassador to Japan and South Korea.
Dijsselbloem’s successor is expected to be elected during the 4 December Eurogroup meeting. No finance minister has formally put themselves forward as a candidate, Bloomberg noted.
Asked if Gramegna was considering the post, a spokesman told Delano on Tuesday that Luxembourg’s finance ministry had no comment on the matter.
UPDATE, 10 October, 3pm:
Pierre Gramegna has said that while he’s not throwing his hat in the ring, if the consensus among EU leaders is to select him for the job, “then I am ready” to serve as Eurogroup head. The comments came in an interview with the Wort newspaper published on Wednesday afternoon. Gramegna stressed that he was not an official candidate for the post. He added that: “The most important thing is that Dijsselbloem’s successor is a competent finance minister.”