“From 19 to 21 March 2019, I attended the CEF workshop “Enabling Finance Officials as Trainers and Learning Facilitators’’, which was delivered as part of the Fiscal Implications of Structural Reforms (FISR) project. Attending this workshop inspired me to have an interactive approach and active role in all discussions. Exchanging experience with colleagues from different countries of the region and Turkey was very useful. It is always useful to hear others’ experiences and practices in the ERP drafting process, especially in the area of structural reforms regarding the implementation of the new costing methodology but also all other challenges related to structural reforms.

The countries of the region and Turkey had 4-5 representatives attending the workshop, holding lively debates about ERP Guidance for Costing of Structural Reforms and their financing. As we were on the same ‘’mission’’, coffee and lunch breaks were productively used to talk about the subjects and lessons learned during the day. Working in groups on mutually important case studies was extremely useful but also fun and interesting. After an intense day, we addressed a few soft topics with focus on effective communication, where we learnt how to prepare strong presentations and improve our presenting skills. Exciting games and relaxing time after a hard-working session made us not only colleagues but also friends.

Mojmir Mrak, Janez Šušteršič and Saša Jazbec as well as CEF facilitators well illustrated the concrete steps relevant in the working process during drafting ERP, and shed light on other topics that come up in our everyday jobs. The experts covered all topics related to costing and financing of structural reforms, and I also found presentations on European economic governance, range of measures to strengthen governance and facilitate a return to sustainable economic growth, job creation, financial stability and sound public finances very useful.

Furthermore, lecturer Janez Šušteršič talked about the link between structural reforms and fiscal framework of the countries, explained to us the evolution of the term structural reform, and showed tools for better prioritization of reforms. This session was highly valuable and applicable for all the participants involved in the ERP drafting process. In addition, I would like to emphasize the importance of practical work during the sessions, which included very well-designed exercises and tasks. It was a real pleasure to be a part of a group and work on different tasks and case studies.

Since I am a member of the working group for preparing the Montenegrin ERP for two years, I am now trying to apply all the lessons learned in the preparation process. As a secretary of the working group and as a person engaged with the preparation of Chapter 5 – Structural reforms, I have contributed to defining the measures, monitoring the process, designing adequate and methodologically correct costing, and defining the fiscal implications of structural reforms.

As part of the FISR project, we had costing workshops in June and November in Montenegro, which attracted a lot of working group members. ‘’The Methodological Guidance for Costing of Structural Reforms’’, published by the CEF, has been very helpful. In the ERP drafting process, we are also using OECD manuals on monitoring, diagnostics and prioritization. In line with this, I would also like to emphasize the significance of the CEF Line Ministries Portal – an online learning space, which supports knowledge and experience exchange in public financial management among officials working at ministries of finance and line ministries in South East Europe.

The CEF workshop motivated me to continue with learning new things and professionally improve myself. I have gained new knowledge that is applicable in my daily job duties, and it has encouraged me to create and share new ideas as a way to better resolve tasks and challenges. For my own personal success, I have made many new friends from all countries of the region.

Every time when I come back from a CEF event, I am boosted with positive energy and full of ideas. Bearing in mind that the Economic Reform Program is teamwork, every gained result as well as the achievement of each of our common goals is a result of mutual commitment and work. I certainly hope that I have contributed to our mutual success.”