The International Monetary Fund (IMF) urges the European Union to implement internal reforms, promote fiscal consolidation, and unify member states' markets to address rising debt and spending pressures.

The IMF, whose former president was European Central Bank President Lagarde, has warned EU finance ministers that in the next fifteen years, EU countries will face huge bills in the areas of defense, energy, and pensions. The IMF suggests combining internal EU reforms, fiscal consolidation (deficit reduction), and the issuance of joint debt as a response. So far, the passive "wait and see" approach adopted by many European countries is no longer sustainable. The IMF calls for strategically unified action across Europe. There are still significant divisions among EU member states on whether to raise funds for defense, energy, and technological innovation by issuing "joint debt".