The official site of Italy's central bank

Main international organizations and groups in which the Bank participates

The International Monetary Fund (IMF)

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international financial institution created in 1944 following the Bretton Woods agreements with the aim of (a) fostering international monetary cooperation, exchange stability and an orderly exchange rates system, (b) promoting economic growth and high employment, and (c) providing financial assistance to countries with balance of payments difficulties. Three main instruments are used to achieve these general objectives: (a) surveillance of the exchange rates and economic policies of member countries, (b) arrangement of short- and medium-term loans for countries in difficulties, and (c) provision of technical assistance to member countries. At present 185 countries are members.

The IMF is run by an Executive Board composed of the Managing Director, some Deputy or Alternate Directors from the regions, and 24 Executive Directors. Under the IMF Statute, the 5 countries with the largest number of votes (the United States, Japan, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom) can each appoint their own director, whilst the others are elected by groups of countries known as "constituencies". Italy is part of a constituency that also includes Albania, Greece, Malta, Portugal, San Marino and Timor-Leste; together these countries account for around 4.2% of all votes.

The Governor of the Bank of Italy participates in the IMF as Alternate Governor for Italy. Together with the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Bank of Italy also contributes to define the positions taken by the Italian Executive Director on the IMF Board.