Press Release No. 15/12

Press Release: Statement by IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde on ECB Decisions

January 22, 2015

Ms. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), made the following statement regarding today’s decisions of the European Central Bank (ECB):

“We welcome the measures announced today that will strongly reinforce the ECB’s accommodative stance. The planned expansion of the ECB’s balance sheet will help lower borrowing cost across the euro area, raise inflation expectations and reduce the risk of a protracted period of low inflation. These measures will also strongly increase the prospects of the ECB achieving its price stability mandate.

“It remains essential that the accommodative monetary stance is supported by comprehensive and timely policy actions in other areas, not least structural reforms to boost potential growth and ensure broad political support for demand management policies.”