They have at their disposal a second policy lever of direct relevance for investment, namely fiscal policy. Companies will only invest in the future when there is confidence and certainty about the future, about the medium-term fiscal path, and ultimately about taxes. We need a consistent and credible application of the Stability and Growth Pact across time and across countries. Within the existing framework, governments can find space to support productive investment, and achieve a more growth-friendly composition of fiscal policies by lowering the tax burden and reducing unproductive current expenditures. In parallel, it may be useful to have a discussion on the overall fiscal stance of the euro area with the view to raising public investment where there is fiscal space to do so. In this regard, there is also a complementary role to play at European level in supporting the rebound in private investment. I therefore welcome the € billion package announced by the incoming Commission President two months ago. The role of monetary policy Let me finally say a few words on the contribution of monetary policy. We successfully fought the confidence crisis in the euro that raised interest rates to abnormal levels. We provided the euro area banking system with unprecedented funding. We have continuously lowered our policy rates. Now we have reached the lower bound. To ensure that this very accommodative monetary policy stance is transmitted to the real economy across the euro area in an equal manner, we have also deployed a number of non-standard tools.
Many countries do not seriously consider the recommendations given to them by the IMF and/or blame the Fund for its own problems. Other countries want to avoid that the consequences of their own policy actions, for the rest of the world, are discussed within the IMF or prefer to discuss them elsewhere. •  To increase the legitimacy of the IMF, there are reasons to consider the formal governance issues, (i.e. the QVR-issues). A consensus has to be built, step by step, on how to deal with this. However, to increase the efficiency of the Fund, a number of other reforms could be implemented that are as important as the QVR-issue. In these areas it is possible start moving forward at once. Thank you. BIS Review 43/2005  5