The ESM and the IMF: comparison of the main features

Analyse approfondie 27-04-2018

This document provides a comparison of the main objectives, tools and governance structures of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) and of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It contributes to the debate on recent proposal regarding the possible evolution of the ESM into a “European Monetary Fund”, in the wider context of the discussions on how to strengthen the governance of Economic and Monetary Union. The note also presents summaries of three external papers prepared in spring 2017, upon a request of the Economic and Monetary Committee on this subject.