WASHINGTON — The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday announced a set of measures intended to “bolster the flexibility and scope” of its emergency programs to aid nations that may face liquidity problems.

The I.M.F., in addition, is gearing up to take a bigger role in helping ease the European debt crisis. Risk-averse investors are paring back exposure to Europe, raising borrowing costs across the Continent. Many countries, including Italy, Spain and Hungary, are struggling to finance their debt.

The fund said it approved revisions to help countries with “relatively strong policies and fundamentals” affected by the debt crisis in the euro zone — in its words, “crisis bystanders.” It said it would be able to offer assistance in a “broader range of circumstances” than previously allowed.

The goal, the fund said, is to “break the chains of contagion.”

“The fund has been asked to enhance its lending toolkit to help the membership cope with crises,” Christine Lagarde, the I.M.F. managing director, said in a statement. “The reform enhances the fund’s ability to provide financing for crisis prevention and resolution. This is another step toward creating an effective global financial safety net to deal with increased global interconnectedness.”