Date Time IMF Executive Board Concludes 2020 Discussions on Common Euro Area Policies with Member Countries Washington, DC: On December 18, 2020, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the 2020 discussions on common euro area policies with member countries. [1] The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a significant human and economic toll. Euro area real GDP declined sharply in the first half of the year, though the unprecedented policy responses at the national and EU levels helped cushion the impact of the crisis-including by effectively limiting increases in unempl...