About this event

The Economic Reform Programme (ERP) is the main document prepared by the European Union (EU) candidate and potential candidate countries that serves as a background of their macroeconomic dialogue with the EU. The ERP’s focus to structural reforms has dramatically increased in over the past years as they became perceived as a precondition for sustainable economic growth, jobs creation and competitiveness. This event will be discussing possible ways for improving the quality of structural reforms outlined in the ERP as a way towards securing their coordinated, fiscally-sustainable and timely implementation.  

The ERP preparation requires strong commitment and clear guidance at government level on prioritization and implementation of structural reforms, as well as their design, costing and financing over the medium-term. This is why significant efforts were put over the past years into strengthening of the methodological framework for articulation of structural reforms while their costing (i.e. measuring their fiscal implications) has not seen the same level of progress. In such circumstances, a variety of challenges are being faced by countries when assessing costs and budgeting of structural reforms.

Therefore, the overall objective of this event is to provide a consistent and user-friendly framework for costing of structural reforms that would contribute to improvement of the overall quality of the ERP chapter covering structural reforms (Chapter 5). The online course is designed for public officials committed to furthering develop the ERP document of their country and structural reforms included in it with innovative thinking, practical analytical tools and coordinated across-the-government actions.​

Taking this into account, this event will provide overview of the ERPs’ position and role within the EU economic governance and explain prospects for overcoming inconsistencies in integration of structural reforms from the ERPs into domestic fiscal framework (e.g. national budget, medium-term budget framework, etc.). It will also touch upon possible implications of varying definitions of structural reforms.

It will explain the elements of Methodological Guidance for costing of structural reforms under ERPs and provide practical examples on how it can be used for strengthening the existing processes and tools for costing and financing of structural reforms in a country.

The event will build upon the experiences and lessons learned in delivering the CEF events across the seven IPA countries throughout 2019. Since costing is only a final phase of a complex process dependent on strong involvement of line ministries, at this event participants will have a chance to discuss ways incentivizing coordination and exchange of financial and non-financial information between line ministries and ministries of finance.  

How will you benefit?

Upon its completion, participants will be able to:

• Identify specifics of the ERP document and its position within the greater European economic governance
• Understand the principles of Methodological Guidance for Costing of Structural Reforms and how to practically implement it in preparation of inputs for the ERP
  • Clarify differences in concepts of „additional costs“ and „base year“
  • Distinguish  ,,direct“ and „indirect/secondary“ cost implications
  • Categorize different types of expenditures (e.g. subsidies for investments, earmarked transfers to local governments)
  • Realistically plan funding sources and their availability (e.g. sector budget support sources conditioned on performance)
  • Minimize the use of „to be determined“ funding sources

• Examine how to streamline the process of cooperation and communication between line ministries and ministry of finance in preparation of ERPs.
• Appraise the benefits and determine methods for integrating structural reforms outlined in the ERP into the country’s budget preparation process and medium-term fiscal framework.
• Assess how to streamline the process of cooperation and information exchange between Line Ministries, Ministry of Finance Budget Department, and the ERP Coordinator.

Who should attend?

Invited to participate are the officials involved in design, costing and budgeting of structural reforms outlined in the ERP. They include:  

• Members of the working group for ERP preparation
• Officials working at finance and policy departments of Line Ministries
• Officials working at budget department of Ministry of Finance
• Policy planning experts from the government’s policy coordination body and/or Prime Ministers’ office.

The event is designed for participants who have not had a chance to join the events in 2019 and those who would like to refresh their knowledge. 

Faculty 

The learning initiative will be delivered under the guidance of:

• Saša Jazbec, CEF Expert and former State Secretary, Ministry of Finance of Slovenia
• Mojmir Mrak, CEF Expert and Jean Monnet professor at the Faculty of Economics, University of Ljubljana
• Janez Šušteršič, CEF Expert and former Minister of Finance of Slovenia

Practical information

• Applications should be submitted by May 4, 2020 via this application form 
• This course will be delivered on the CEF Online Learning Campus
• To participate at this course basic information technology is needed (internet connection, and computer, tablet or smartphone)
• The course will be held in English language 
• Envisaged workload is 6 hours per week. It includes three online meetings and self-paced study of learning resources and peer-to-peer discussions. Presence is required only during the online meetings that will last up to 1,5hrs
• Upon fulfillment of the required learning steps, you will receive a certificate of successful completion of this online course 
• No fee will be charged 
• Due to limited capacities, up to 35 participants will be selected

 

Partners

This event is implemented as part of the CEF’s project “Strengthening Line Ministries’ Capacities to Assess Fiscal Implications of Structural Reforms”.