CEE region growth challenges
CEE region growth challenges
Context
Before 2020, CEE economies were growing in a moderate way, but were already facing a certain number of structural challenges potentially reducing future growth prospects. These include a shortage of skilled labour notably for addressing the digital transformation, a persistent investment gap, particularly for Non-Financial Companies (NFCs), insufficiently effective public finances and regulatory fragmentation. The financing model of the region also needs to evolve to allow more investment in innovative companies and immaterial assets, as it is very much supported by bank financing, direct foreign investment in labour intensive industries and portfolio capital coming into foreign-owned banks. The CMU is a welcome initiative in this perspective.
The Covid crisis led to a contraction of output in the CEE region in 2020 (around -4%), compensated in part by a rebound in 2021 (around +5.5%). The strong EU level public policy response to the pandemic is viewed as an opportunity for the region to redevelop its economies in line with the digital transition objectives of the EU, building on the acceleration of digitalisation put in place by many companies during the pandemic.
The green transformation is a more challenging objective in the region due to uncertainty about the actions needed to green the economy and insufficient skills in this area.
The Russia-Ukraine war brings new geopolitical risks, energy provision challenges and macroeconomic issues such as high inflation, which are expected to reduce growth potential in the region in 2022 and beyond should the conflict escalate or continue. The significant number of displaced Ukrainian families in the region is a further element to be considered.
Eurofi documents
Extracted from the main Eurofi publications (Regulatory Updates, Views Magazines and Conference Summaries)
Eurofi Views Magazine chapters
Growth challenges in the CEE region - September 2021
Mario Nava - European Commission | Pierre Heilbronn - European Bank for Reconstruction and Development | Pier Carlo Padoan - UniCredit S.p.A. | Miroslav Singer - Generali CEE Holding B.V | Peter Palus - Permanent Representation of the Slovak Republic to EU | Debora Revoltella - European Investment Bank
Capital market development in CEE - April 2020
Pierre Heilbronn - European Bank for Reconstruction and Development | Tomislav Ridzak - Croatian Financial Services Supervisory Agency | Leonardo Badea - National Bank of Romania | Lukasz Januszewski - Raiffeisen Bank International AG | Ivana Gažić - Zagreb Stock Exchange | Miroslav Singer - Generali CEE Holding B.V.
CEE region financing and investment gap - April 2019
Peter Paluš - Permanent Representation of the Slovak Republic to EU | Debora Revoltella - European Investment Bank | Benjamin Angel - European Commission | Steven van Groningen - Raiffeisen Bank Romania | Lucian Anghel - Bucharest Stock Exchange | Sergiu Oprescu - Romanian Association of Banks