(L-R) Simon Harris, Tánaiste and Minister for Finance of Ireland; Gilles Roth, Luxembourg Minister of Finance; Credit: LENSMEN

Luxembourg’s Ministry of Finance has reported on the participation of Minister of Finance Gilles Roth at the informal meetings of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN), which took place in Dublin (Ireland) from Friday 18 to Saturday 19 September 2026.

According to the ministry, the Finance Ministers exchanged views on the competitiveness of the European banking sector. While noting the resilience of the banking sector, they recognised the need to sustainably strengthen its competitiveness and to continue efforts to simplify administrative procedures.

In the presence of Stripe Chief Executive Officer Patrick Collison and Bank for International Settlements General Manager Pablo Hernández de Cos, the Finance Ministers and central bank governors discussed innovation in the financial sector. Financial innovation is an important driver of growth and competitiveness for Europe. The development of innovative solutions will therefore be decisive in the years ahead.

Moreover, the Finance Ministers exchanged views on the implications of artificial intelligence for the economy and the financial sector. The discussions took place in the presence of International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, as well as the Finance Ministers of Switzerland, Karin Keller-Sutter, Canada, François-Philippe Champagne, and Ukraine, Sergii Marchenko. Europe must work towards developing artificial intelligence that serves people and complements human judgement without replacing it.

Minister Roth stated: “Financial innovation and new technologies offer considerable opportunities for the growth and competitiveness of Europe and Luxembourg. Our responsibility is to create an environment conducive to their development. Our financial sector has the strengths necessary to meet these challenges and seize the opportunities of tomorrow.”

On the sidelines of the meetings, Gilles Roth held a bilateral meeting with his Irish counterpart, Simon Harris.