President Barroso Statement On Lagarde To Head IMF

It was with great pleasure that I learned just now of your nomination as Director General of the International Monetary Fund. Allow me to congratulate you most warmly both on my behalf and on behalf of the European Commission as a whole. With your nomination as the first woman to head this institution, the International Monetary Fund has made an excellent choice, one based on expertise, experience and talent.

On this occasion, I wish to pay particular tribute to the decisive role you have played on the economic and monetary dossiers over the course of these past five years, during which the world has witnessed the most serious financial and economic crisis in a century. I equally pay tribute to the quality of your presidency of the G20 finance ministers these past months, a period in which the challenges faced have been numerous.

Your commitment to Europe and your determination to advance European integration have been evident throughout and have contributed to providing Europe with a strengthened economic governance, allowing it to face up to the challenges confronting the euro area.

Over the years, the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission have forged a close and solid partnership, which has been further strengthened in recent months. Our political and economic dialogue is constant. Our experts work together on a daily basis to face up to the sovereign debt challenge. I wish to consolidate these working relations and this partnership during your mandate at the IMF and I hope to welcome you very soon to Brussels in order to discuss this subject with you.

Let me once again reiterate my sincere congratulations on your appointment.”