French economy minister sceptical about single eurozone seat at IMF
(VIENNA) - French Economy Minister Christine Lagarde voiced scepticism Friday over calls for a single eurozone seat to be established at the International Monetary Fund.
"It is an interesting proposal," she told a press conference in Vienna, noting that Luxembourg Premier and Finance Minister Jean-Claude was "pushing for it."
But she added: "I would find it bizarre for the major countries of the eurozone not to be represented on the IMF executive board."
Germany and France are just two of the eurozone countries currently represented on the 24-seat IMF board that would lose their seats if a single one were established.
Lagarde said she was not opposed to the proposal but added that it had yet to be clearly discussed by the parties concerned.
Juncker, who is also chairman of the Eurogroup of finance ministers, urged French President Nicolas Sarkozy at a conference in Brussels Thursday to push for a single eurozone seat to be set up at the IMF.
Sarkozy had called for eurozone countries to pool their voices at international organisations and fora, prior to his election, although he has since been notably quiet on the subject.
The European Commission, like Juncker, has long supported the idea of a single representation for the eurozone in major international fora such as the IMF and Group of Seven.
Lagarde was in Vienna Friday for a one-day visit to prepare her country's upcoming presidency of the European Union from July to December.
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