EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Stand-By Arrangement. A 20-month SBA in an amount of SDR 90.968 million (154 percent of quota) was approved by the Executive Board on April 27, 2012, and the first purchase of SDR 4.251 million was made available following the Board meeting (Country Report 12/100). The second...

KEY ISSUES Background: After its resilience during the global financial crisis, the Polish economy slowed substantially in 2012–13 as headwinds from the euro area and waning confidence added to the drag from fiscal consolidation. But economic activity is starting to recover, helped by strong...

Policy implementation remains on track but recent weak GDP data point to a slower growth recovery. Real GDP declined in the first quarter, reflecting a fall in exports and weak domestic demand. Nonetheless, fiscal results remain on track and sovereign and bank bond yields have risen relatively...

The economic model of Belarus is increasingly untenable, resulting in poor policy outcomes. Strong and predictable macroeconomic policies are essential to promote stability. A further reduction in directed and subsidized lending operations is needed. The National Bank of the Republic of Belarus...

The short-term objectives are being met, but medium-term targets and sustainability have to be worked on. The impressive fiscal adjustment evident since the crisis erupted is continuing. The Executive Directors commend the Greek government’s determination to focus on overdue spending cuts....

The economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is strongly connected to Europe through trade and financial channels, continues to pay a high price for the tough conditions in the area. The paper discuss that, following low demand in its trading partners, exports slumped in 2012 by 7.5 percent,...

Kosovo’s macroeconomic and financial policies have remained broadly on track. Progress continues to be made toward the key objectives, i.e., restoring a sustainable fiscal position and sufficient government cash buffers, anchoring fiscal policy, and enhancing the resilience of the financial...

The Eighth Review Under the Extended Arrangement discusses Ireland’s fiscal policy, financial reforms, economic growth, and employment. The policy implementation of Ireland continued to remain strong, even though the country has been susceptible to global financial shocks. Ireland’s...

The staff report for the Fifth Review Under the Extended Arrangement and Request for Waivers of Applicability and Nonobservance of End-September Performance Criteria, prepared by a staff team of the IMF, following discussions that ended on September 11, 2012, with the officials of Portugal on...

Significant progress has been made in macroeconomic stabilization under two successive SBAs but the economic recovery remains fragile. Growth is expected to remain subdued in the near term and to only gradually recover over the medium term, with risks to the outlook mostly on the downside. With...