'We Have Two Big Concerns': Brexit, Refugee Crisis are Top IMF Issues

The United Kingdom’s potential exit from the European Union, known as Brexit, and the European refugee crisis are among the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) top concerns, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said Saturday.

DAVOS (Sputnik) – IMF’s Research Department Director Maurice Obstfeld said this week the financial institute was not yet ready to assess the economic impact of a potential late 2017 Brexit.

"We have two big concerns: one has to do with Brexit and whether there is a deal to be had between the United Kingdom and other members of the European Union, which we hope very much," Lagarde said.

Speaking at the Davos World Economic Forum (WEF) debate, Lagarde argued that the deal would "really be conducive to more stability and a more cohesive economic zone."

The IMF chief listed the refugee crisis as an "economically related" "make-or-break" second concern.

"Our IMF perspective on the refugee crisis is if it is well handled, if the integration process is conducted in a cohesive and organize way, in the short-medium term it’s going to be an upside," she stressed.

Lagarde estimated the "upside" to average 0.2 percent growth across the EU and up to 0.5 percent of growth in Germany and Sweden, with the largest share of accepted refugees.

British Prime Minister David Cameron is seeking to renegotiate the conditions of his country's EU membership before the so-called in/out referendum.