07/11/2016 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 7 November, the Board of Directors of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) approved a request by Spain to make a voluntary early fourth repayment of €1 billion of its ESM loan. Between December 2012 and February 2013, the ESM disbursed €41.3 billion to the Spanish government for the recapitalisation of the country’s banking sector. Once this payment is made, Spain’s outstanding debt to the ESM of €34.7 billion will need to be paid. In a press release, Klaus Regling, Executive Director of the ESM, said that Spain’s request to accelerate repayments to the ESM shows Spain’s good market access conditions and its comfortable liquidity position. (MB)