Gilles Roth: “Cooperation between countries is more essential than ever” Minister of Finance attends the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington

Luxembourg’s Minister of Finance, Gilles Roth, took part in the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington, D.C., from 15 to 17 April 2026.

Against a challenging international backdrop marked by escalating geopolitical tensions—most notably the conflict in the Middle East with global repercussions—Finance Ministers and central bank governors stressed the importance of safeguarding macroeconomic stability and financial resilience. Discussions highlighted the need for prudent fiscal and monetary policies, as well as a renewed commitment to multilateral cooperation to address current challenges. In this context, the IMF noted that economic prospects remain subject to particularly high uncertainty, including the future energy price developments.

Multilateral dialogue and mobilizing international finance

On the sidelines of the meetings, the Minister of Finance held bilateral talks with his counterparts from Angola, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ivory Coast, Mongolia, Sierra Leone and Turkey.

Multilateral development banks (MDBs) featured prominently in the Minister’s engagements during the meetings. The Minister also hosted senior leaders from several international institutions for a working dinner at the Luxembourg Embassy. Exchanges focused on stepping up the mobilization of private capital, the role of financial centers such as Luxembourg in structuring sustainable investments, the use of capital market instruments, and the importance of robust governance frameworks.

In addition, the Minister participated in the IMF’s high-level event dedicated to the new South East Europe Technical Assistance Centre (SEETAC). Supported by Luxembourg, the center will assist Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Moldova in strengthening public institutions and aligning them more closely with European Union standards.

Energy prices, Europe’s resilience and strategic autonomy

Finally, the Minister attended a dinner hosted by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, bringing together European Finance Ministers and representatives of international institutions. Discussions focused on the recent implications of developments in the Middle East for the global economy, particularly regarding energy price trends and their short- and medium-term impact on Europe.

The Minister underlined that coordination at European level remains essential and that energy price developments require close monitoring, given their effects on citizens and households, as well as on Europe’s competitiveness, economic resilience and strategic autonomy. He reiterated the importance of continued cooperation with the European Union’s international partners.

Gilles Roth also met with senior executives from several international financial institutions to discuss financial market challenges and explore opportunities to strengthen and expand their activities in Luxembourg.

A renewed call for international cooperation

The Minister stated: “In a world marked by persistent economic uncertainty and heightened geopolitical tensions, cooperation between countries is more essential than ever. It is a key lever for strengthening political stability, fostering economic growth and protecting citizens. This strong message of cooperation and shared responsibility is what I take away from our exchanges in Washington.”

Press release issued by the Ministry of Finance