04/03/2021 (Agence Europe) – The Boards of Directors of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) and European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), the permanent rescue funds for the euro area, agreed, on Thursday 4 March, to waive Greece’s mandatory early repayment obligation. Such a decision will allow Athens to make a second early repayment to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). At the beginning of February, the Greek government sent formal requests to the ESM and EFSF proposing an early repayment of part of its outstanding loans to the IMF, amounting to approximately €3.3 billion (around 65% of the outstanding loan to the IMF). This operation, the second after repaying €2.7 billion in November 2019 (see EUROPE 12358/7), will reduce Greek debt servicing costs. (MB)