Speakers
Objectives
The objective of this session is first to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the CEE region in terms of economic growth and financing resources, and how growth prospects are expected to evolve in the coming years. This part of the discussion will cover both structural factors (e.g. related to the region’s growth model, the availability of skills, the structure of financing in the region, the digital and green transitions…) and the challenges posed by the geopolitical context (Russia-Ukraine war) and the short-term macroeconomic environment (inflation, interest rates…).
Secondly, the panel will discuss the impact of key EU initiatives (such as the NGEU and CMU) and regional actions (such as the Vienna Initiative, use of the TSI instrument…) in the region and assess further actions that may be needed to support the growth and competitiveness of CEE economies.
Points of discussion
- Opportunities and challenges for the CEE region: What are the key structural challenges facing the CEE region in terms of economic growth and financial models? What other challenges does the current geopolitical and macroeconomic context pose? What are the key opportunities that CEE should seek to exploit? How might the changing EU financing model impact the opportunities of CEE (with enlargement eventually leading to less remaining funding for cohesion and agriculture, but more for market opportunities)?
- Policy priorities: What are the main medium/long-term public policy objectives for reviving growth in the CEE region? Can the economic opportunities and challenges of the CEE region be effectively addressed with the EU and regional policy initiatives underway (European Semester, NGEU, CMU, digital and green EU policies, Vienna initiative, TSI instrument…)? What further initiatives at EU or regional level might be needed? How are the various players of the financial industry contributing to the improvement of the financing model of the CEE region?