Fiscal Implications of Structural Reforms – Project Kick-Off Meeting
We are starting a three-year multi-beneficiary capacity development project Fiscal Implications of Structural Reforms (FISR) funded by the European Union with a high-level meeting to discuss the structural reforms and their integration into the fiscal frameworks of the SEE countries. Several ministers and high-level representatives from ministries of finance, health, labor and public administration from Western Balkans and Turkey have already confirmed participation at the meeting. High-level representatives of the European Commission, International Monetary Fund, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Regional Cooperation Council, Regional School of Public Administration, Overseas Development Institute, and other international and civil society organisations will also participate in the discussions.
On their path to EU accession, the economies of the Western Balkans and Turkey need to become sufficiently vital to withstand the competitive pressures of the EU Single Market. Key policy instruments in this process are their Economic Reform Programmes (ERPs). The implementation of structural reforms, as part of the ERPs, often causes challenges in prioritization of reforms, calculation of costs and securing budget for implementation.
This high-level event will bring versatile interest groups together and discuss the structural reforms in South East Europe and their improved integration into the fiscal frameworks of the countries. The discussion will be facilitated through the prism of increased competitiveness and growth of the region and enhanced EU enlargement. The event will give floor to discussion about the wider picture of the economic governance and how it fits the EU accession agenda; it will show the key role of structural reforms in building competitive market economies; list the key issues and potential improvement points for integrating the structural reforms into the fiscal frameworks of the countries; and highlight regional challenges in sectoral policy making and planning its fiscal implications. You can find out more about the event here.
The FISR project is primarily aimed at supporting public officials mainly from line ministries in sound and consistent assessment of the fiscal implications of structural reforms. Project will via various peer-to-peer, participatory learning initiatives designed by the CEF support: strengthening analytical and costing skills of public officials; coordination inside and between governmental institutions; and enhancing regional cooperation.
Find out more about the project here.