Q2. What happens to Greece because of the failure to make a repayment when due?

The immediate effect is that Greece can no longer receive financing from the IMF under the existing extended arrangement and the IMF will not approve new financing to Greece until it clears its arrears. This is standard procedure when a member fails to repay the IMF. The IMF’s Selected Decisions, 37th issue, page 912, spell out the procedures for a failure to repay and apply to all of its 188 members.

Greece remains a member of the Fund, with voting rights and representation on its Executive Board. The IMF’s annual health check of a member country’s economy (called surveillance) will continue to be an obligation. For the time being, Greece will also be eligible for IMF technical assistance — that is, access to IMF expertise on a range of economic issues, including tax administration and financial sector policies.