KEY ISSUES Context: Growth is benefiting from lower energy prices and euro depreciation, and the labor market is strong. The external position remains substantially stronger than implied by medium-term fundamentals as the current account surplus reached another historical high. The fiscal...

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Extended Arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF): A 36 month, SDR 4,393 million (425 percent of quota) Extended Arrangement under the EFF was approved by the Executive Board on September 4, 2013 and the sixth review was completed on March 27, 2015, for a total...

KEY ISSUES Removing structural obstacles to growth. After six years of persistent contraction, Croatia’s economy is showing signs of a tentative recovery, supported by a favorable environment—the last economy in emerging Europe to exit the post-Lehman recession of 2008/09. Deep-seated...

At the last review in May 2014, Greece’s public debt was assessed to be getting back on a path toward sustainability, though it remained highly vulnerable to shocks. By late summer 2014, with interest rates having declined further, it appeared that no further debt relief would have been needed...

KEY ISSUES Seizing the Window of Opportunity for Reform and Growth Context: Euro area-wide policies and national efforts have supported a turnaround in market sentiment and real activity. Italy’s performance since the crisis, however, has been among the weakest in the euro area. Real activity...

Context. The recovery has strengthened and employment is increasing, driven by the rebound in consumption and investment. Reforms and strong policy implementation have supported the return of confidence, and significant external tailwinds are helping. However, the level of unemployment remains...