IMF reform
October 23, 2010
Representatives of the Group of 20 leading industrial nations on Saturday reached an agreement on how to reform the International Monetary Fund, decreasing Europe's influence on decision-making and increasing that of developing nations like China and India.
Speaking to reporters at the meeting on Saturday, IMF managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn called the deal a "very historic agreement."
"This makes for the biggest reform ever in the governance of the institution," he said.
The agreement came out of meetings of G20 finance ministers and central bankers in Gyeongju, South Korea, where G20 heads of state are to meet in three weeks. It would likely go into effect in 2011.
Less power for Europe
At the heart of the reforms is a substantial change in how the body is governed, shifting more than 6 percent of voting power to fast-developing countries. Europe would also give up two out of the eight or nine seats it controls at any given time on the 24-member executive board.
Current IMF governance largely reflects the geopolitical situation at the time of the body's founding after World War II, and it has proven outdated with the rapid rise of economies like China, India, Russia and Brazil. Under the new agreement, these countries would have greater voting power as well as greater financial obligations and access to IMF funds.
The Fund's five biggest members - the United States, Japan, Germany, France and Britain - each control their own seats on the board and are able to appoint their own executive directors. The reformed structure would require these directors to be elected by the full board.
The United States had sought a greater reduction in Europe's influence on the board, but agreed to the compromise in return for retaining its veto power over the Fund's most important decisions.
The IMF functions as a watchdog over the global financial system and intervenes when countries are threatened with the inability to make payments on debt. Its influence has increased since the 2008-2009 global economic crisis, in Europe most notably with its joint EU bailout fund for Greece.
Germany criticizes dollar policy
Meanwhile after the meeting of G20 financial representatives, German Economics Minister Rainer Bruederle offered criticism of the US Federal Reserve, accusing it of artifically manipulating its exchange rate.
"There was criticism of the American policy of monetary easing, or creating more liquidity," he said. "I tried to make clear in my contribution that I regard that as the wrong way to go... An excessive, permanent increase in money is, in my view, an indirect manipulation of the (foreign exchange) rate."
US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said he backed a "strong dollar" and denied any policy of weaking the currency to boost exports by making American goods cheaper abroad.
Author: Andrew Bowen (dpa, AFP, Reuters)
Editor: Kyle James