Committee for the Abolition of Illegitimate Debt

The representatives of the Paris Club Paris Club This group of lender States was founded in 1956 and specializes in dealing with non-payment by developing countries.

met on 27 May 2016 and having consulted the United Nations Independent Expert report on the effects of external debt on the practice of human rights, [1] have decided to abolish the the debt of its biggest debtor: Greece. [2]

For the Paris club creditors this total abolition should permit the Hellenic government to fulfil its Internationally ratified obligations, particularly in matters of medical care Care Le concept de « care work » (travail de soin) fait référence à un ensemble de pratiques matérielles et psychologiques destinées à apporter une réponse concrète aux besoins des autres et d’une communauté (dont des écosystèmes). On préfère le concept de care à celui de travail « domestique » ou de « reproduction » car il intègre les dimensions émotionnelles et psychologiques (charge mentale, affection, soutien), et il ne se limite pas aux aspects « privés » et gratuit en englobant également les activités rémunérées nécessaires à la reproduction de la vie humaine. and education, and to provide for public investment aimed at producing comprehensive growth and reducing poverty. The Paris Club has thus decided that from now on they will complete their country debt sustainability evaluation with an examination of the capacity of the country to fulfil its Human Rights obligations.

Based on this new approach to debt sustainability, recommended in several United Nations expert reports [3] and resolutions adopted by different United Nations bodies [4], the creditor countries of the Paris Club have also agreed to study the the possible options for further total and unconditional debt abolitions for other countries.

During this meeting the question of the Club’s visibility in its efforts to coordinate their policies in favour of best management options for the foreign debt of debtor countries. To this end, the Club’s secretary was mandated to produce for consideration at the next meeting, a project for Club statutes in order to dote the club with a judicial existance and to formalise working processes. The agendas and minutes of meetings will henceforth be available for consultation on the new internet gateway (http://www.clubdeparis.fr). This new approach was requested by the French Ministry of Finance in coherence with the proposed transparency, anti corruption and modernisation of economic activity act.
The Paris Club has been in existence for sixty years, the members are doing an about turn in the Club’s policies having the objectives of comprehensive growth and poverty reduction that will now be accompanied with respect for human rights, a profound preoccupation with transparency and stronger democratic principals.

Context Notes

1. The Paris Club met for the first time on 16 May 1956. It is a working group of creditor governments of the industrialised countries. See www.clubdeparis.fr
2. The Paris Club member governments that had representatives taking part in this meeting were Germany; Belgium, France , Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, the Russian federation, the UK and the USA. Observer status representatives came from Austria, Canada, the IMF IMF
International Monetary Fund Along with the World Bank, the IMF was founded on the day the Bretton Woods Agreements were signed. Its first mission was to support the new system of standard exchange rates.

When the Bretton Wood fixed rates system came to an end in 1971, the main function of the IMF became that of being both policeman and fireman for global capital: it acts as policeman when it enforces its Structural Adjustment Policies and as fireman when it steps in to help out governments in risk of defaulting on debt repayments.

As for the World Bank, a weighted voting system operates: depending on the amount paid as contribution by each member state. 85% of the votes is required to modify the IMF Charter (which means that the USA with 17,68% % of the votes has a de facto veto on any change).

The institution is dominated by five countries: the United States (16,74%), Japan (6,23%), Germany (5,81%), France (4,29%) and the UK (4,29%).
The other 183 member countries are divided into groups led by one country. The most important one (6,57% of the votes) is led by Belgium. The least important group of countries (1,55% of the votes) is led by Gabon and brings together African countries.

http://imf.org , and the International Development Association (IDA).

Technical Note

The Greek Republic’s debt to Paris Club countries was estimated to be $62 billion on 1April 2016 (source: Paris Club).

Translation Mike Krolikowski

http://clubdeparis.fr/?The-Paris-Club-will-abolish-the-Greek-debt-and-adopt-official-statutes