About this learning event

Structural reform measures outlined in the Economic Reform Programmes (ERP) are set to tackle the most important structural obstacles to competitiveness and inclusive growth of a country, while also reflecting their medium-term priorities in various areas. In the situation where macro-fiscal stability and fiscal risks are additionally highlighted due to global economic developments, it is even more important that all measures introduced to the ERP are realistically planned, sequenced and prioritized.

As a response, at this event, participants will have a chance to:

• Assess the position and role of structural reforms outlined in ERP within the overall strategic planning and budgeting systems
• Assess why structural reforms outlined in the ERP should reflect strategic priorities of institution and country and understand how to prioritize them
• Learn about the structure and hierarchy of planning documents, and the ERP’s position within it
• Address the importance of integration of structural reforms from the ERP into national budgets, and determine possible steps to achieve this interconnectedness
• Get insights into the best practices and approaches in design, planning, and prioritization of structural reforms to be included in the ERP.

 

The event will be delivered at the CEF premises in Ljubljana, Slovenia as a 3-day face-to-face workshop which gathers officials from the 7 different countries of Western Balkans and Turkey. This workshop will be highly participatory and oriented towards learning from practical experiences of countries involved in ERP preparation process. By attending this event, the participants will have a possibility to meet and jointly work with their peers from the region.

With this event the CEF continues its support to the EU candidates and potential candidates in preparation of their ERPs, in line with the ECs Guidelines for the ERP preparation.

Who should attend?

Invited to attend are the officials involved in preparation of the ERP and structural reforms outlined in it. These include:

• Officials working in policy, finance and IPA departments of line ministries
• Policy planning experts from the government’s policy coordination body and/or Prime Ministers’ office
• Officials working at the budget department of Ministry of Finance
• Members of the working group for the ERP preparation
• National ERP Coordinator, Coordinator for the ERP Chapter 5, and their Teams.

Public officials from other CEF constituency countries working in the policy planning area are also welcome to apply.

Lecturers 

• Tijana Stanković- CEF Expert & Former ERP Coordinator in Montenegro 
• Saša Jazbec - CEF Expert & State Secretary at the Ministry of Finance of Slovenia
• Silvana Mojsovska — CEF Expert & Professor at the Institute of Economics, North Macedonia
• Christoph Schwierz — Head of Unit Revenue Administration and PFM, European Commission DG REFORM
• Tilen Božič - State Secretary at the Ministry of Finance of Slovenia
• Mojmir Mrak - CEF Associate Fellow & Professor, University of Ljubljana
• Maja Perić — ERP Coordinator & Assistant Minister, Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Valion Cenalia — Senior Expert at the Budget Department, Ministry of Finance of Albania & Lecturer at the University of Tirana
• Gorana Roje – CEF Associate Fellow & Head of Unit at the Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets of Croatia

Practical information 

• Applications for interested participants were open until September 25, 2022
• Flights, transfers and accommodation in Slovenia, and meals during the event will be fully funded for up to two officials per country
• Additional relevant participants will be accepted as self-funded, or offered the online participation
• UPDATE: Due to high interest for the topic and limited capacities to host all applicants, the event will be also streamed online. Details will be shared with those who applied, after the event application deadline.
• Event will be delivered in English language and translation will not be provided
• It will offer welcoming, interactive and people-centred learning methods, that stimulate knowledge absorption
• Upon the successful completion of this event, participants will receive a certificate
• No participation fee will be charged.

Partners

This event is delivered as part of the EU-funded multi-beneficiary project “Structural Reforms Better Integrated Within Fiscal Frameworks” (FISR2) implemented by the CEF.