Launch of the International Monetary Fund's Fall 2015 Regional Economic Issues Report on Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe (CESEE).
While much of the Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe (CESEE) continues to recover at a healthy pace, Russia and the rest of the CIS are in recession, with growth expected to turn positive next year (except in Russia). At the same time, the balance of risks has tilted to the downside, as new risks to trade and capital flows – related to possible further slowdown in major emerging markets—have emerged. Where the recovery is well advanced, the policy priorities increasingly shift toward the medium term: rebuilding fiscal buffers and strengthening the budget structures, continuing with reforms to improve the business environment and to address structural weaknesses. Despite progress with fiscal consolidation, many CESEE countries continue to face significant fiscal challenges. This report explores ways of reconciling fiscal consolidation and long-term growth in CESEE. Questions discussed in the report include: how growth-friendly are budgets in CESEE compared to peers? How did the recession in the wake of the global financial crisis affect CESEE budgets, and what policies did countries enact in response? Did these policies move budgets in a more or less growth friendly direction? What are the remaining fiscal consolidation objectives facing CESEE countries and what are the more growth-friendly ways to achieve them?
Participation in this event is exceptionally free of charge. Registration and coffee from 15.30 – Meeting from 16.00 to 17.30
